The neighbors in the Denton community thought police finally had apprehended the person who has been breaking into their homes, but the suspect turned out to be someone else.
Darryl Edward Vanover-Pullen, 29, of Belleville was charged with Home Invasion, 2nd degree, and larceny in a building after neighbors spotted him taking stuff from his uncle’s garage on Denton Road around lunchtime on March 19.
Neighbors, who had been advised by Van Buren Township Police at a meeting just days earlier, to call police if anything looked suspicious, called police.
Vanover-Pullen was apprehended within minutes at the Michigan Avenue-Denton Road turnaround. Neighbors said he locked the garage when he left. There is no evidence that he entered the house.
VBT Police Captain Gregory Laurain said Vanover-Pullen was arraigned at 34th District Court and was being held on a $10,000 cash bond. His pre-exam was set for March 26 and his exam for March 28, Laurain said.
Police say Vanover-Pullen walked into his uncle’s unlocked garage on Denton Road to pick up pop bottles, which he had been allowed to do in the past.
But this time, he decided to take his uncle’s new Mercury boat motor and a chain saw.
Vigilant neighbors called the homeowner at work to ask if anyone had permission to be in his garage after they heard the intruder start up the man’s Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Then, they called police, who they said must have been just around the corner since they arrived “in a minute” and then apprehended the man a short distance away. The motor and the saw were in the back of his pickup truck under the pop bottles.
The uncle pressed charges.
“We have interviewed him and do not believe he is responsible for any of the other break-ins in the Denton Sub,” Laurain said. “We are still actively working the home invasions within Denton Sub.”
Laurain said police had a town hall informational meeting the morning of March 17 with Denton Sub residents to answer questions. He said more than 50 people showed up, which he considered a very good turnout.
One of the break-in victims told the Independent her break-in near the Denton Sub was considered #38 of the recent string of break-ins and more have occurred since then.