Eastern Michigan University police arrest 2 suspected thieves
Two men - both with long criminal histories - were arrested this week and accused of stealing from buildings on the Eastern Michigan University campus.
The first arrest came Monday as police were searching for a man who broke into a student's off-campus residence and sexually assaulted her. A 31-year-old man was detained and was quickly ruled out as a suspect in that incident, but was carrying a stolen laptop, police said.
Officers traced the laptop back to the EMU Convocation Center, where it had been stolen minutes earlier from a lower-level office, Lt. Jim Stephenson said. The laptop belonged to the EMU athletic department and had decals on it, Stephenson said.
Another laptop theft also occurred around that time from the EMU Student Center. The suspect, who has a criminal history in Washtenaw County, was wanted on a fugitive warrant in Macomb County, Stephenson said.
The man, who lives in Ypsilanti, has not yet been charged, but the investigation is continuing, Stephenson said.
Wayne Sparks
On Wednesday evening, officers arrested a 56-year-old parolee in connection with two thefts on campus. Wayne Sparks was arraigned today on charges that he stole a laptop and backpack from campus buildings in separate incidents over the past two weeks.
Stephenson said detectives identified Sparks as a suspect and arrested him at his Ypsilanti home. Michigan Department of Corrections records show Sparks has a lengthy criminal history dating back to at least 1973.
Sparks, who is being held in the Washtenaw County Jail, has been convicted of multiple counts of home invasion, breaking and entering, receiving and concealing stolen property, escape from prison, drug law violations, and uttering and publishing, records show.
Sparks was released on parole in January.
Comments
d_a2
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 11:03 a.m.
@awakened....is it a good thing? A 30 year veteran is probably more worried about retiring safely and collecting a paycheck then actually getting out there like a young ambitious cop and working a case. I'm sure hes spending half his shift over at Doms bakery where you can constantly see EMU Police cars
Ralph
Sat, Jun 19, 2010 : 7:55 a.m.
The new police chief is really doing a great job. Crimes are being solved and criminals taken off the street.
bumperboats
Fri, Jun 18, 2010 : 3:16 p.m.
@Awakened-While I would not disagree that Stephenson is one of the best cops around, I'm not so sure about O'Dell "re-vamping" the EMU police department. It's not too hard to make EMU "Ann Arbor East" and a Chief of Police is little more than a political figure head. A lot of the changes that have happened would have anyway, with or without O'Dell. There are many good men and women at EMU who have been there for a long time. They have carried on and continued doing good police work, even during the scandal. They deserve the proper credit. Chiefs of Police don't make the arrests, the men and women out on the streets do.
blahblahblah
Fri, Jun 18, 2010 : 11:40 a.m.
Unfortunately, this guy can probably make a life long career out of stealing small stuff, so long as his crimes remain non-violent. It seems for a variety of reasons, including limited jail space and resources, non-violent criminals can play the system. A couple years inside the joint, a couple out, etc., etc....like a revolving door. It's too bad that college campuses continue to attract these types of individuals. Kudus to EMU police!
Elaine F. Owsley
Fri, Jun 18, 2010 : 8:46 a.m.
It seems fitting at this point that a career criminal (how many offenses does he have to have!!) should be retired to prison for the rest of his life to keep the rest of us safe from his pursuits.
Awakened
Fri, Jun 18, 2010 : 6:39 a.m.
It is great police work. Good Job! But the point to remeber is that EMU PD has been completely re-vamped by Chief O'Dell. Since he began managing the department they have clearly become the best department in the county. Last year he added a number of Ann Arbor's top people dumped by Chief Jones in his buy out. Lt. Stevenson, named above, a detective with 30 years of experience is one of those. Now Ann Arbor's loss is EMU's gain. Maybe if there is a change of administrations in Ann Arbor they will consider stealing Chief ODell for the AAPD!
Mikey2u
Thu, Jun 17, 2010 : 7:34 p.m.
That is some great police work! Thanks a lot.
Ricebrnr
Thu, Jun 17, 2010 : 7:20 p.m.
What?!?!? Surely there must be a reporting error! WE all KNOW that campuses are crime free utopias and the students are the safest there. Please note the comments in these previous articles. annarbor.com/news/are-campus-gun-policies-unconstitutional-debate-on-campus-gun-bills-continues/ annarbor.com/news/opinion/should-guns-be-allowed-on-campus/index.php