Police: 2 suspected in Ann Arbor home invasion could be involved in others
Police recovered numerous items they believe have been stolen in recent Ann Arbor home invasions.
Courtesy of the Ann Arbor Police Department
One man has been charged and another is awaiting arraignment for a single Ann Arbor home invasion, but the two are suspected in more, police said Friday.
Michael Stallard, 57, of Ann Arbor, was arraigned Thursday on first-degree home invasion charges for allegedly breaking into a residence in the 700 block of South Division Street and taking a laptop among other items, according to police.
A 59-year-old Ypsilanti man is expected to be arraigned next week on charges in the same incident. AnnArbor.com does not release the names of suspects until they are officially charged at an arraignment.
On Sept. 17, a victim was returning to a home on Division when the person saw a suspect leaving the residence carrying something, Ann Arbor police Sgt. Earle Fox said. The method of entry was an unlocked door. During the investigation, police were able to identify a vehicle, and subsequently Stallard and his alleged accomplice.
Michael Stallard
Courtesy of WCSO
"We discovered a lot of property that we believed to be stolen," Fox said, estimating that there were about 30 items.
While the suspects' arrest warrants only list charges for the Division Street home invasion, they are suspected in several other home invasions in the Ann Arbor area and East Lansing. More charges could be forthcoming, Fox confirmed.
Specifically, the men are suspected in home invasions on the north side of Ann Arbor. Police also aren't ruling out Stallard and the Ypsilanti man being partly responsible for a recent increase in Ann Arbor home invasions.
Police believe the stolen property was being sold to another party, who then went on to sell it in a traditional fencing operation.
"We were just lucky this stuff already hadn't been resold," Fox said about the recovered items.
Stallard is free on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, according to court records.
Police continue to investigate the cases. They urge people to lock their doors and call the AAPD if they have had any property stolen from them recently. People are encouraged to call the Ann Arbor police anonymous tip line at 734-794-6939 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-SPEAK UP (773-2587).
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
HereAndThere
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 1:12 p.m.
I don't understand....if there is a lock on the door, why not use it?
Kk Ichikawa
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 12:22 a.m.
Matt Cooper, you have spoken the words of a "non-victim." Obviously the property recovered was from additional home invasions that have not been linked to the suspects yet. Most likely, there will be more victims before they are arrested again.
nickcarraweigh
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
Having the loot spread out for pictures by the local press brings back memories of various Third World regimes, many of them proud of their arcane efficiencies.
who nu
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.
Ha...this is just hysterical! I am almost certain that this mugshot is of the guy who "works" the exit ramp occasionally at US23 and Washtenaw. (I have seen him one other time at another off ramp as well).....So, did the 5 bucks that you gave him go towards his $5000 bond?
Matt Cooper
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 4:07 a.m.
For those that didn't know, the man has not been convicted of anything. Also, bond is not used as a punishment, or to 'keep someone behind bars' prior to conviction. See, in America we have this thing called the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Bond is not a punishment, nor should it ever be used as one. And just because someone is charged with a crime doesn't mean he is guilty of it. Bond is intended only to ensure the defendants appearance at any later court proceedings. Some bonds are higher than others, some lower depending on the severity of the crime. So there's our civics lesson for the day. PR bonds are perfectly legal and happen every day in nearly every criminal court in this country. So stop worrying about the bond. He'll either show up or he won't. If he does, he'll be tried in a court of law. If he doesn't a warrant will be issued and he will be arrested and jailed. Either way, let's not demand punishment until after he's found guilty by a jury.
Cathy
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 11:40 p.m.
If the court has good reason to believe that the accused is a threat to the community, or is a flight risk, bail can be denied or set very high. It's perfectly legal, happens in nearly every criminal court in the country. Protecting the community from (alleged) serial thieves is not used as a punishment.
YpsiLivin
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 5:46 p.m.
tdw, You used "affect" correctly. "Affect" is a transitive verb that means "to influence" or "to act upon." An "effect" is a product or end result. ( e.g., "The accident affected me; my broken leg was the accident's effect.")
tdw
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 10:57 a.m.
Well, Matt I don't know your stand on any other issues but I'll go along with you on this one.Two 59 year old men accused of non violent crimes does not seem to be much of a risk.People complain about jails being full until it affects ( can someone tell me if I used the word affect correctly ? )them.............................Now comes the " well if they didn't waste space for drug....."These people seem to skip over the fact that USERS rarely stay in jail.They also neglect to note the 1000's of innocent people murdered because of the illegal drug trade. BTW folks .....I'm quite liberal about drug use.But as long as they stay illegal innocent people will die.I don't buy or smoke pot anymore but if I did I could very easily get it from a local grower
observer
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 10:39 a.m.
Matt, I hope he doesn't break into your house.....or utopia.......
djacks24
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 6:32 a.m.
"Police executed a search warrant at a residence connected with the two men and found a plethora of items including laptops, camcorders, guitars and a mandolin. " That's proof enough for me and hopefully the jury. I suggest cutting off a limb to leave them one less appendage to steal with.
Lovaduck
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 4:37 a.m.
Matt, keep saying this. It's so tiresome that in a supposedly high intelligence community "innocent until proven guilty" has been replaced by "hang 'em high!" Bail is NOT punishment and no one's been let go!
a2citizen
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 4:28 a.m.
Thanks for the Civics 101 lesson. So now, let's leave the bubble and go back to reality...
Jack Campbell
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 1:59 a.m.
Why don't criminals ever stay behind bars? Thank you MI justice system!
Cathy
Sun, Sep 30, 2012 : 11:37 p.m.
Emptying prisons is how the last two governors have balanced the budget.
Kk Ichikawa
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 1:54 a.m.
.......so in Ann Arbor, $500 (10% of $5000) will get you back on the street after committing a multi-year FELONY?? Good to know....Good to know!!
towncryer
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 12:42 a.m.
They stole a mandolin? Also, agree about personal recognizance bond, strange.
tom swift jr.
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 11:07 p.m.
"plethora" Nice!
tom swift jr.
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 4:52 p.m.
You're right, it was misused! Sorry, John, I gotta take my "Nice!" comment back.
Ed Kimball
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
How many items in a plethora?
Radlib2
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 11:17 a.m.
Actually, not really. Plethora was misused in this instance.
Goober
Fri, Sep 28, 2012 : 10:39 p.m.
Out on a personal recognizance bond? Hard to believe!