Tin Pan Saloon burglar heads to circuit court arraignment on Jan. 14

Charles Clifford Craig, 20, of Van Buren Township, who is accused of breaking into Tin Pan Saloon in Sumpter Township early Dec. 29, is heading for an arraignment on the information at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit on Jan. 14.
On Monday, 34th District Court Judge Brian Oakley presided over a hearing on Craig’s case that resulted in Craig waiving his preliminary exam and heading on to circuit court. Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Carol Murray handled the charges.
Craig has been charged with breaking and entering with intent, a 10-year felony, and larceny from a building, a four-year felony.
Craig has been in the Wayne County Jail since his arrest inside the Tin Pan on Dec. 29, unable to post the $25,000 or 10% bond.
Sumpter Township Police Detective John Toth said Craig was discovered hiding in the Tin Pan with a backpack containing a crowbar and one of the Tin Pan’s money drawers.
Toth said Craig was taken into custody and confessed to all he had done. Toth said Craig is a longtime family friend of the owner of Tin Pan, Steve Kovach. Craig also had been an employee of Kovach’s at the restaurant.
Craig told Toth that he had a job that required him to have a car and his car had broken down. He didn’t know what to do, so he decided to rob the restaurant.
Craig walked from his mobile home on Lohr Road, wearing two or three layers of clothing to protect him from the cold, along with a bullet proof vest. He carried no gun, Toth said.
Craig’s wife and infant child were in the courtroom on Monday afternoon, but Craig participated in the hearing by televised hookup from the Wayne County Jail.