By Diane Madigan
Independent Court Reporter
Brian Bernard Baker, 17, of Van Buren Township was brought to 34th District Court from the Wayne County Jail on April 24 to face a preliminary exam on a Home Invasion, 2nd Degree, charge.
That home invasion was at 41408 Coolidge Street in Haggerty Subdivision on April 12 when police caught him red-handed.
But, when he got to court VBT Police had three more home invasion charges waiting for him, with one more on the way.
Baker’s retained attorney James McGuiness was about to waive the preliminary exam on the April 12 charge when Judge David Parrott noted there were three other charges filed on which Baker hadn’t been arraigned.
Judge Parrott said he would adjourn the first charge for a week so all the charges could be kept together at the district court level and go to Circuit Court together. Baker remained in custody and all four charges will have their preliminary exams on May 1.
Judge Parrott then arraigned Baker on the additional three charges:
• Home Invasion, 2nd Degree, at 10991 Buchanan St. on Feb. 19;
• Home Invasion, 1st Degree; Larceny from the Person; Larceny in a Building; Weapons – Felony Firearm; on March 15 at 10637 Jackson Street; and
• Breaking and Entering a Building with Intent and Home Invasion, 2nd Degree (attempt) on March 25 at 11130 Van Buren St. (He allegedly broke into the garage, and tried to get into the house.)
Baker, who stood mute to the new charges, was in jail on a $25,000 cash bond for the original charge.
His attorney asked Judge Parrott to set $1,000 bonds on the three new charges since his client is just 17 years old, unemployed, and stays with his father.
Judge Parrott complied and set $10,000 or 10% ($1,000) on each of the additional charges.
Baker was arrested April 12 after undercover Van Buren Township police officers witnessed him leaving a house in Haggerty Subdivision in possession of stolen property taken from that residence, said Lt. Kenneth Floro.
Baker subsequently confessed to four home invasions in Haggerty Sub and the Investigative Division served a search warrant at his residence where they recovered additional stolen property and illegal narcotics, Lt. Floro said.
Over the past weeks, the VBT Police Department investigated a series of home invasions in Haggerty Sub and an investigation led to a possible suspect that lived in the area.
Police saw the suspect leaving his home on foot and heading to Haggerty Sub the morning of April 12 and they set up “rolling surveillance.” Plain clothes detectives maintained close surveillance while patrol officers secured an outer perimeter, until he was seen with the stolen goods and arrested, Floro said.
A fifth charge has been approved by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office and will be added to the other charges, according to police.
The March 15 break-in on Jackson Street included Baker allegedly stealing a Smith & Wesson 357 revolver from the resident, James Laine, along with two laptops. Having the gun on his person during the robbery brought the felony firearm charge.
VBT Police said attorney McGuiness told them he planned to waive the April 12 charge, but to hold preliminary exams May 1 on the three other charges on which his client was arraigned.
Independent Editor Rosemary K. Otzman contributed to this report.