8/15/24 Troy Times by C & G Newspapers

Officials eye updates to Troy Family Aquatic Center

Increased concessions, cabanas, rentals could be added

Workers, businesses, associations react to divided Michigan Supreme Court decision

BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com

More than 20,000 people have come to the Troy Family Aquatic Center this season so far, but according to a recent study, some upgrades and rebranding could bring much more attention to the Troy amenity.

Troy Recreation Director Brian Goul said some changes have been made and more are coming to bring the aquatic center into the future, which so far this season has had revenues of over $310,000.

The city paid somewhere around $10,000 for the services of Global Management Amusement Professionals, which offers consulting for different amusement-based organizations and businesses. Goul, Recreation Supervisor Morgan Thrasher and Deputy Department of Public Works Director Dennis Trantham met GMAP President Ken Handler during the World Waterpark Symposium in October 2023, which led to representatives with GMAP visiting the Troy facilities and reviewing management and operating policies in January 2024.

Supervisor Morgan Thrasher and Deputy Department of Public Works

In terms of the suggestions, the Aquatic Center has implemented some changes that are heavily geared toward guests’ experiences.

“At this time, some things we have done is expand on the Harvey the Octopus theme of the park by naming all the amenities in the park,” Goul

See AQUATIC on page 10A

Court’s ruling on wages, sick time reverberates across region

BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — A recent 4-3 ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court af-

fecting the state’s laws governing minimum wage and sick time is sending shockwaves through many businesses, including the restaurant industry.

All workers will receive a pay bump to

more than $12 an hour in 2025 with tipped workers gradually reaching $12 in 2029. The final amounts will be determined by the state’s treasurer. The current minimum wage

See WAGES on page 5A

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Troy residents enjoy a variety of outdoor amenities available at the Troy Family Aquatic Center, 3425 Civic Center Drive.

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The Troy Times is one of 21 bi-weekly publications produced by C & G Newspapers, a family-owned company serving residents in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties since 1981.

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SECOND FRONT PAGE

3A/ TROY TIMES • AUGUST 15, 2024

Suspects

reportedly from Columbia and Mexico

BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com

Five suspects have been apprehended and arraigned after a home on Millay Drive was illegally entered.

On Aug. 1 at approximately 12:45 p.m., Troy police dispatch received a call from a resident on Millay Drive who stated that there was an unknown person inside their home. The resident, who was at work, was watching the intruder via a camera inside the home. The suspect turned the interior camera towards a wall.

Ultimately, it was determined

Troy police arrest five suspected of connections to international crime ring

there were multiple suspects involved, including 25-year-old Owen Jean Cortes, 39-year-old Michel Leandro Alba Rincon, 48-year-old Omar Giovvany Rodriguez-Aponte, 27-year-old Geovanny Enreque Castellanos-Forero and 43-year-old Luis Felipe Camargo. Officers arrived in the area and observed a suspect they identified as Cortes running west through the Pro

Car Wash parking lot, away from the general direction of the home. A foot pursuit ensued as the suspect ran west across Rochester Road, jumping a cement wall. He was taken into custody in the area of Hidden Ridge Drive and Colebrook Avenue.

Officers observed a second suspect, who they identified as Rincon,

CRIME RING on page 23A

encourage team building through robotics

BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com

Middle schoolers with an interest in robotics can work together and build their skills through the Omegabots robotics team at Larson Middle School.

The Omegabots, formed in 2016, are one of the many robotics programs available through the Troy School District. Most of the programs are led and supported by parent volunteers.

“As the students graduate from Larson, they would ‘pass the torch’ to the next gen-

See ROBOTICS on page 16A

Photo provided by Jeff Blakely

The Omegabots robotics team received high placement during one of their recent competitions.

Wages

is $10.33 and $3.93 for tipped workers.

All employees, including part-time and temporary workers, are entitled to paid sick leave. Every 30 hours an employee works generates one hour of paid sick leave. Employees get 72 hours paid sick time a year at large companies. However, employers with fewer than 10 employees need to only pay for 40 hours of sick leave a year.

These sweeping changes will go into effect Feb. 21, 2025. For some, it’s a step toward a living wage for workers. For others, it’s a hit to businesses across the state and possibly tipped workers.

How this happened

This ruling was years in the making. It’s the result of wrangling to keep the issue off the ballot in Michigan by legislators against the changes.

It started with two petitions in 2018 that received the required number of signatures to potentially appear on the ballot.

mined by the state, according to inflation. The minimum-wage gap between tipped workers and all other workers, 38% in 2018, would be eventually closed by 2024.

The other petition required employers to give employees one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked per week.

The Legislature adopted the unaltered initiatives in September 2018. This kept them off the ballot and allowed lawmakers to alter them.

They did this in two bills. One caused the minimum wage increases to not exceed $12 until 2030 and removed the increases for tipped workers. It also removed increases to the wage based on inflation. The second made changes to sick time. It exempted employers with under 50 employees from providing paid sick time. It reduced the amount of paid sick time hours for larger businesses from 72 hours to 40.

One petition would have given workers gradual wage increases until the minimum wage became $12 in 2022. After 2022, the wage would be increased each year, as deter-

The changes, led by Republicans, were approved along party lines by margins of 6048 in the Michigan House of Representatives and 26-12 in the state Senate in a lame duck session in December 2018. They were signed by then-Gov. Rick Snyder and went into effect March 29, 2019.

In the Michigan Court of Claims, it was determined that the Amended Wage

from page 1A See WAGES on page 8A

CHANDA RETAINS TROY COUNCIL SEAT

community members, and he said he applauds his opponent for “running a strong, issuesfocused campaign.”

BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com

Hirak Chanda retained his Troy City Council seat Aug. 6.

A current Troy City Council member, Chanda received 53% of the vote, with 6,765 votes, while his opponent, Ed Ross, received 47% of the vote with 6,045 votes..

The two candidates were running for a term that will end Nov. 8, 2027. The position pays $175 per month.

Chanda, a system safety engineer at General Motors, said in a candidate profile that his top priorities “include hiring more police officers, revitalizing our library and parks, bringing back senior programs lost during covid, preserving green space, and keeping our city attractive to businesses and families. I will continue collaborating with my Council colleagues and use my background as an engineer to make decisions based on logic and data.”

In a statement, said he was humbled and overwhelmed.

“I promise that whether you voted for me or not, I will do my absolute best to represent every Troy resident,” he said in the statement. He also thanked his family and

“I am immensely humbled to now be the first Indian American and first naturalized citizen ELECTED to the Council of a city that is nearly 30% foreign-born. It is my sincere hope that this election will encourage more of Troy’s immigrant population to get involved in political and civic life.”

Of the 3,553 people who voted in the state House of Representatives District 57 primary race Aug. 6, 63.44% voted for Aisha Farooqi, making her the Democratic winner.

She said in a statement that she is honored to be the nominee.

“In addition, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my opponents for the dedication they brought to this race.

“I am deeply honored to have earned the trust of my community members within District 57. I pledge to continue working tirelessly on their behalf, as we move forward to the general election.”

Challenger Tyler Fox received 22.54% of the votes, with a total of 801, and challenger Douglas Waggener received 14.02% of the votes, with a total of 498.

On the Republican side, Thomas E. Kuhn received 100% of the votes, with a total of 2,865.

Dream Cruise to roll back into town

BIRMINGHAM — The Woodward Dream Cruise will drive into town on Saturday, Aug. 17. Adding to the festivities, the Birmingham Cruise Event will feature classic cars of all makes and models, sponsor exhibits, food and more 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. downtown, organizers said.

The event will be held along South Old Woodward Avenue, from Maple Road to Lincoln Street. South Old Woodward Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic from Maple Road to Lincoln Street in preparation for and during the event.

Parking will be available at Birmingham’s five parking structures, where the first two hours are always free. Metered parking is available throughout downtown. Parking meters are credit card and Parkmobile-enabled. For more information, visit www. allinbirmingham.com/visitors/cruiseevent.

More gun buybacks planned

METRO DETROIT — A gun buyback event was held Aug. 3 at Nativity Episcopal Church in West Bloomfield in honor of Alex Verner, one of the students murdered in the Michigan State University shooting in 2023.

“These events not only meet important social needs like safety and community building,” stated Ted Verner, Alex’s father, in a press release, “but the act of transforming weapons used for harm into something beautiful testifies to our ability to change and transform our societies.”

The event was hosted in partnership with St. David’s Episcopal Church in Southfield and took in a total of 54 weapons, including long guns and pistols. Donors received artwork, Tshirts, and gift cards from Kroger or Meijer as a thank-you for turning their unwanted weapons in. The event was also sponsored by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, who recently allocated an additional $10,000 to support continued gun buybacks and transformation events in Oakland County. University of Michigan researchers were onsite as part of their ongoing research into unwanted weapons in the U.S.

More gun buyback events will be held later this year:

• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 24 at Church of the Messiah, 231 E Grand Blvd. in Detroit.

• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 28 at All Saints Pontiac, 71 W. Pike St. in Pontiac.

• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 5 at St. Andrew’s, 5301 Hatchery Road in Waterford.

• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 9 at St. Aidan’s, 1679 Broadway in Ann Arbor. For more information, visit stdavidssf.org.

For C & G’s projected standings and players to watch in the OAA and CHSL, visit candgnews.com/news/sports

Wages

from page 5A

Act and the Amended Earned Sick Time Act were unconstitutional on July 19, 2022. This was reversed by the Michigan Court of Appeals, but was ultimately upheld by Michigan Supreme Court’s July 31, 2024, ruling.

“We hold that this decision to adopt the initiatives and then later amend them in the same legislative session (what has been referred to as ‘adopt-and-amend’) violated the people’s constitutionally guaranteed right to propose and enact laws through the initiative process,” the majority opinion states.

Business

owners, associations react

Many business owners and associations have decried the decision.

The Michigan Retailers Association released a statement in the wake of the news.

“Bedrock principles of capitalism and a competitive labor market are thwarted by extending the paid leave law to employers with only one employee, dramatically altering the paid leave requirements for those with 50 or more employees, and mandating substantial changes to the minimum wage,” the association stated in a press release.

Other organizations including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Association of Michigan struck a similar tone in press releases.

Marty Knollenberg, Sedona Taphouse/ Knollenberg Hospitality LLC owner, said no one at his restaurant is paid under $12. He does have concerns with the changes to tip credit and earned sick time, and how it could affect the current rise in the cost of living.

“There are a lot of loopholes, and my hope is the Legislature will fix this,” Knollen-

berg said. “I don’t know what they’re trying to solve, and I wish the union groups pushing for this would ask who’s paying for this.”

He said he feels that his own staff would prefer the current system, specifically in terms of how tips are addressed.

“They like the system we currently

have,” Knollenberg said. “Some servers start as hosts and find with their tips they make more money as servers.” Knollenberg said the loopholes should be modified in legislation and that Michigan representatives related to the service industry should be listened to.

and

was concerned about people tipping and going out to dinner in the current economy. She said customers may be less likely to tip if the minimum wage for servers gets too high.

Lauryn Tillman, a bartender

server in Macomb County, said she

See WAGES on page 19A

Photo by Erin Sanchez

Patrons enjoy food and drinks at the bar at Troy’s Sedona Taphouse location at 198 E Big Beaver Road Aug. 12.

Aquatic

from page 1A

said in an email. “We have also moved the entry for open swim to the blue gate in between the buildings with an inflatable Harvey at the gate to meet patrons as they enter. The facility now offers birthday parties and rents out an area in the park for parties to use.”

In terms of admission changes, recreation staff are recommending price changes to $24 per nonresident and $15 per resident during the 2025 season. The current day pass rate for nonresidents is $20 for anyone 3 years and older, and the rate for Troy residents is $12, with annual and family passes also available.

There was also a recommendation from the consultants that Troy offer special rates on cooler days, which Troy has already implemented with buy one, get one deals and 50% off deals.

Some changes to the season passes were also recommended, with a Basic Pass recommended at $49.99 per resident and $79.99 per nonresident, an Upgraded Pass at $69.99 per resident and $99.99 per nonresident, and an all-inclusive pass at $129.99 per resident and $159.99 per nonresident.

“Global Management believes it is essential that season passes are perceived as a discount on the gate fee rather than a membership,” a report states. “The new season pass rates will be a decrease in price compared to the past. A three-tier season pass system was recommended by Global Management. … The Basic Pass would be admission only with no guaranteed entry if at capacity. The Upgraded Pass would include guaranteed entry if at capacity, entry into park a half hour before open swim, discounts on concessions and cabana rental, and entry into special events. The All-Inclusive Pass will inSee AQUATIC on page 24A

Peek Inside Your Health: Full Body MRI Screenings

Unveil Silent Issues Before Symptoms Arise

(Southfeld, MI) Full body MRI clinics have gained national attention lately, as TV personalities publicly share their personal full body scan experiences. One actress credits the scan for saving her life after doctors dismissed her unexplained pain for months. After various tests, including a CT scan, had “unremarkable” results, the pregnant actress became her own advocate, searched out a full body MRI clinic and discovered she had pancreatic cancer. Tanks to early detection the tumor was removed successfully.

As a general rule, when symptoms occur related to cancer, it usually has progressed to stage three or four. Even with annual physicals, there are limitations. Most screenings only cover about 29% of cancers with 71%

occurring outside of where doctors are able to screen. However, full body MRI scans can detect cancer in every organ from the top of the head through the pelvis and can detect it very early.

For a long time, full body MRI scans were available only in select areas outside of Michigan, requiring expensive fights like in Vancouver or California. However, this changed when a facility opened in Southfeld, making these screenings available to Metro Detroit residents.

“Our advanced MRI screening can detect cancers very early when they are as small as a pencil eraser and are more easily treatable. If cancer goes undetected, however, it can grow into stage three or stage four with difcult treatments. We can also identify

hundreds of conditions such as brain, abdominal, chest, and groin aneurysms,” stated the founder of the Southfeld clinic called Bionicc Body Screening.

MRI full body screenings are safe, non-invasive and emit zero radiation. Book in August to save $450.

Te primary focus of Bionicc Body Screening is to deliver peace of mind, ofering a comprehensive and detailed imaging of the body’s internal structures. Te ultimate hope is for excellent health. However, in the event that something is detected, the advanced screening aims to catch any potential issues at their earliest stages. Tis approach ofers the best opportunity for successful treatment outcomes, should the need arise.

Robert B., age 50, opted for a

full body scan from Bionicc Body Screening and a very small tumor was detected. He said, “It saved my life. Teir MRI found a kidney tumor that had been missed by a recent CT scan. I cannot recommend this service more.” Save $450 when you book a full body MRI appointment for the month of August. Learn more now by visiting www.BioniccBodyScreening.com (Tis is a limited time ofer.) Schedule today at 1-833-BIONICC.

0301-2433

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

The Troy Family Aquatic Center provides shady areas for guests to relax and play.

eration of students, and their parents would help support the team,” current Omegabots coach Jeff Blakely said in an email. “In 2022 I took over as head coach for the Omegabots. Prior to that I was a coach and/or mentor for various teams at Larson Middle School since 2020.”

Prior to his involvement with the robotics teams at Larson Middle School, Blakely worked with students at Hill Elementary School. In 2017, Blakely, Steve Smitka and Matt Sackrison founded a set of robotics teams under the VexIQ program, and they formed the Troy Robotics Foundation nonprofit in 2019 to help fund students.

Blakely said he believes that not everyone can participate in team sports but that everyone can participate in robotics.

“If robotics existed when I was a kid, I

would have been all over it, because sports ‘wasn’t my thing’ either,” he said.

He said that is what compelled him to work with the others to establish a robotics program for kids.

For the 2024-2025 school year, the Omegbots will have around 10 students on the team, with the ideal being between eight and 10.

“Most, if not all students have an interest in robotics or some facet of STEM prior to joining,” he said, noting activities such as programming, building things with their hands, or playing video games — the robots use game controllers. He said that “just about every kid has at least one thing they get excited about.” He said the interest is so strong that the demand exceeds the number of volunteer coaches and mentors.

Nathan Samuel, an Omegabots team member, has been interested in robotics since he was in fifth grade, and it stemmed from his interest in Legos.

• Aerating

• Brush hogging

• Drainage

• Dumpster Rental

• Fall Clean up

• Firewood

• Flower planting

• Grading

• Holiday Lights

• Ice control

• Landscape DESIGN

• Lawn mowing

• Litter detail

• Mulch

• Overgrowth removal

• Plowing

• Power raking

• Retaining walls

• Rock & boulders

• Sod

• Spring clean up

• Tree & shrub trimming

• Weeding

Photo provided by Jeff Blakely

Members of the Omegabots robotics team at Larson Middle School work together on various tasks to prepare for robotics competitions.

Experience power washing the way it should be done, by ‘Honest Guys’

Whether it’s dirty from the elements or everyday wear and tear, your property’s exterior takes a beating. For your home or business, maintenance is the key to preserving your investment.

When it’s time to clean and freshen up the look of almost anything, Honest Guys Power Washing is the only call you need to make. Owner Dan Taylor and his “guys” handle expert power washing for everything: homes, decks, brick pavers, cement, gutters, siding, industrial buildings, and even construction vehicles.

Dan said decks and brick pavers are their specialty, where they o er a better quality of service than the competition, the materials they use leave a longer lasting ﬁnish and the scope of work goes beyond power washing.

“We’ll refinish decks, replacing boards and fixing structural issues,” Dan said. “We fix patios and pavers that are falling apart.

Not only do we li and level and repair the base, we get the moss out of the cracks and put polymeric sand in the joints that prohibits weed growth and prevents moisture penetration.”

The power washing season heats up in mid-April and runs through October, which means now is the perfect time to protect

your property by keeping it clean and performing optimally.

“It’s worth investing in maintenance,” Dan said. “It’s a lot cheaper to maintain something than it is to repair it or replace it.”

Honest Guys o ers competitive pricing with a quality of work that exceeds what the competition o ers. Dan and his team can also quote pricing for new brick installation, add-ons, retaining walls, rock and more.

“We’re the best,” Dan said. “We take care and pride in our work. We use only the best products and our employees are educated technicians with years of experience.”

Honest Guys Power Washing has a new o ce and showroom in Clarkston. For more information or to set up a consultation for a free estimate, visit honestguyspowerwash.com or call (248) 568-7152.

Ask us for a quote on your new brick install,add ons,retaining walls,rock & more!

Wages

“I truly believe that,” Tillman said. “Basically, I rely on my tips to live.”

A ‘landmark victory’

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel praised the ruling.

“This is a landmark victory for Michigan voters and a resounding affirmation of the power of direct democracy,” Nessel is quoted as saying in a press release. “The Legislature cannot manipulate its power to undermine the will of the people. This ruling sends a clear message that elected officials cannot disregard the voices of their constituents. I am glad to see the Court recognize and respect that the people reserved for themselves the power of initiative, a crucial tool meant to shape the laws that govern them.”

The Restaurant Opportunities Center called the day of the ruling “an important day to remember,” calling the decision a win for working families and democracy.

St. Martin Neighborhood Reunion VIII

Saturday, September 7, 2024, Noon - 6 p.m. St. Clair Shores Memorial Park, 32400 Jeferson at Masonic

Check-in begins at 11 a.m.

Lunch and Beverages served 2-4 p.m.

COST: BEFORE 8-12-24 ~ $ 45 per person AFTER 8-12-24 ~ $ 55 per person

“This ruling is the answer to economic opportunities and job protections that every worker, every voter and every person— Black, white, Latino, Asian, gay and straight, binary and non-binary, Democrat and Republican, immigrants and Native Americans, young and senior—deserves,” Chris White, director, ROC Michigan, is quoted as saying in a statement. “Together with our coalition partners and allies, I am proud of what we have accomplished!”

The Michigan AFL-CIO also commended the ruling.

“We commend the Court for ruling what we all clearly witnessed back in 2018,” Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber said in a press release. “The Republicancontrolled legislature’s flagrant disregard for the citizen initiative process has robbed Michigan workers of wages and sick leave for the past five years. Republicans in the legislature quite literally stole out of the pockets of Michigan workers and today’s ruling by the Supreme Court is the first step in righting this wrong and making workers whole.”

Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.

from page 8A

Photo by Erin Sanchez

Nikki Luke shows off some of the meal options available at the restaurant.

Robotics

“I was always interested in building Legos and participated in Lego League in elementary school,” Samuel said in an email. “I enjoy building things and see how they work. I also like competing with the team.”

In terms of team activities, the tasks can vary as the teams prepare projects for competition.

“In the early stages it’s all about getting familiar with that year’s objectives and designing the various components to perform the tasks necessary to win,” because the game and its challenges change every year, Blakely said. “Once the students have some various designs or concepts, we try to build and test the concepts. Some concepts fail to perform, we document it, and then move on and focus our attention on a new idea until we are all satisfied with the performance of the component. If we need specific parts, we will order them ASAP so that we can complete the build phase.”

For competitions, students prepare through different drills and matches in order to ensure they have all their bases covered leading up to competitions.

“We have each student try different positions on the team until they find their ideal spot,” Blakely said in an email. “Once everyone has established their roles, we vote to make sure everyone agrees that our team is optimized for success. After that we begin doing timed drills, mimicking the competitions” — like a soccer scrimmage, but with robots, he said.

Robotics competitions can go on for a couple days for different teams, depending on how well the teams perform.

“The competition takes a whole day and is highly competitive. There are referees as well as live scoring and commentary,” Samuel said in an email.

He said each team has three or four people running the robot in each round of competition. “There are usually around 36 teams from different schools. You are competing in partnership with teams that you may have never met before. So you have to work with them to develop a strategy.”

The Omegabots usually perform well, and their most recent season has brought some high recognition.

Blakely said that in the regular season, they do about average, but in the spring season they placed first.

As the kids grow older and move on to next stages in their school careers many of them continue to express their interest in robotics.

“I would say at least 2/3 of the kids I’ve mentored over the years stick with it all the way through high school,” Blakely said in an email. “The other 1/3 who stop doing robotics, it usually comes down to a few things such as conflicting activities, lack of space on a team, or general shift in interest as the students mature. Regardless of their interest, they have a 100% chance of using the skills they’ve learned in furthering their career, no matter what direction they decide to go. … I would like to see Troy School District take robotics as seriously as they do football, basketball or soccer. If they do that, they would truly be a ‘City of Tomorrow, Today’ focusing on the engineers, scientists, and programmers of tomorrow, today.”

Samuel said he is interested in learning more about robots and potentially exploring a career within the field.

“I would like to build robots that help people in their daily lives,” Samuel said.

For more information, visit troy.k12.mi.us/ or visit lmsrobotics.weebly.com/.

‘It feels almost like a race car’

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

In the mid-1990s, the Woodward Dream Cruise in Oakland County was officially established, giving classic car owners the chance to relive the heyday of cruising the avenue in their souped-up vehicles, muscle cars and vintage models.

Novi resident Robert Fridenberg has attended the Dream Cruise many times over the years, but his cruising days began long before — in 1979 — when he and a pal regularly drove up and down Woodward Avenue in his buddy’s “hopped up” 1976 Pontiac Trans Am.

They spent most of their Saturday nights cruising to the tunes of Journey, ELO and the Cars playing on the radio. The young adults — who grew up across the street from

Retired Ford engineer says driving Pantera is an event

each other in Southfield — often stopped at the Northwood Shopping Center at Woodward and 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak.

“It had a huge parking lot,” Fridenberg recalled. “Back in the day, that place was full of hot rodders. That’s where we hung out, met girls and met up with some of our buddies.”

The following year, the duo were back at cruising al-

Novi resident Robert Fridenberg purchased his 1972 DeTomaso Pantera three years ago. The 1972 DeTomaso Pantera is painted mandarin copper metallic. Cruising Hines Drive in Wayne County is a favorite spot for Fridenberg.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

Crime ring

from page 3A

walking slowly southbound on the east sidewalk of Rochester Road. They said he appeared to be filming the foot pursuit with a cellphone. He was observed walking into Noni’s Restaurant, and officers took him into custody.

Detectives observed a third suspect, who they said was Rodriguez-Aponte, walking southbound on the west sidewalk of Rochester Road toward east Big Beaver Road. Surveillance of that suspect was maintained, and he was observed getting into a silver Honda Odyssey with a Virginia license plate.

A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle, and three additional suspects were taken into custody. Rodriguez-Aponte as a passenger, Castellanos-Forero as a passenger, and Camargo as the driver.

On Saturday, Aug. 3, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald charged five defendants related to an alleged trans-national theft ring. Cortes was charged with second-degree home invasion and possession of burglary tools. Camargo was charged with second-degree home invasion and driving with a suspended or revoked license. Rincon, Rodriguez-Aponte, and Castellanos-Forero were all charged with second-degree home invasion.

Second-degree home invasion is a felony

punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and/or a fine up to $3,000. Possession of burglar’s tools is a felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment. Driving with suspended, revoked or denied license is a misdemeanor punishable by 93 days jail time and/or a fine up to $500.

“Breaking into a home is a serious crime. It threatens our personal security in the place we should feel most safe. Because of the quick action of this homeowner and the Troy Police, these defendants are locked up, and my office will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” McDonald said in a press release. “Theft rings have become a major contributor to crime in our community, and I am committed to continued collaboration with law enforcement to keep these dangerous criminals off of the street.”

The defendants were arraigned Aug. 4 in 52-4 District Court before Magistrate Robert Morad. Bond was set at $1 million no 10%. All five defendants remain in custody at the Oakland County Jail. A probable cause conference was set for Aug.15. Attorneys for the suspects could not be reached for comment by press time.

“We commend our Road Patrol Officers, Detectives, and Special Investigations Unit on a tremendous collaborative effort resulting in the arrest of five suspects who are likely connected to an International crime ring,” a press release from the Troy Police Department states.

Aquatic

from page 10A

clude everything in the Upgraded Pass and use of the Community Center fitness area, pool, and gym.”

Another recommendation was to change operation hours to 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekends to allow for special events and rentals in the evenings. In terms of implemented changes, the center began the current season with daily swim times like lap swim only 8-9:30 a.m. and open swim 10 a.m.-6 p.m., but changed some of the times due to public feedback. Open swim now goes 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays-Sundays.

Some issues have been with food and concessions set up at the center.

“So, the concession stand is very limited due to space and power constraints,” Goul said. “The facilities and grounds did work with us to try to get additional power, which is helping, but one of the complaints we get about the concession stand is how long the lines are or how long it takes to get the food. So we did purchase additional equipment and added staff to help assist with that, but there are only two windows in very limited spaces … so the future of concessions needs to be reviewed to ensure maximum profitability as well as good customer service.”

Other recommendations include updating lockers, adding cabanas and different recreational programs, offering souvenirs and merchandise for sale, and adding some theming to facilities, which has been done with mascot Harvey the Octopus.

“A few cabanas will be added for rental next year, and locating some lockers outside of the locker room is also being considered,” Goul said in an email.

Following a presentation, City Council members discussed the details of how the center could implement some of these ideas.

“The thing that kind of maybe took me by surprise is the undertone was very much about a waterpark … and it proposed a lot of great vision that I hope you know we’re not just going to plow forward,” City Council member Rebecca Chamberlain Creanga said. “I understand the passes maybe, but some of the vision I think, yes, we need the tours, we need to talk as a council, because I had to stop and think: Do I see it as a waterpark? Is that how I’ve used it? … What we’ve heard from city management was more about how to downsize it or, you know, what would be ideal is move parts of it closer to the Community Center, whereas this is a drastically different vision, and I read this like, ‘Oh this is really different from what I’ve been, you know, hearing all these years.’”

City officials will further consider these potential changes going into next season.

“Our Civic Center property and facilities are among our best community assets,” Troy Mayor Ethan Baker said in an email. “We must protect them; we must improve them; and we must always be looking for ways to keep them relevant and evolving for current Troy residents and future generations. We have recently commissioned a comprehensive strategic plan for our Troy Public Library, and now we are also working hard on updating our Troy Family Aquatic Center. We will continue to engage our residents, Recreation staff, and outside consultants to make sure we do what is right and best for the Aquatic Center, and for the City of Troy as a whole.”

For more information, visit troymi.gov or rec.troymi.gov/parks___facilities/troy_ family_aquatic_center/index.php.

Call Staff Writer Sarah Wright at (586) 498-1068.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

The Harvey’s Hut Concession Stand, at the Troy Family Aquatic Center, provides guests with different meal options, like pizza, burgers, chicken tenders and ice cream, among other popular food options.

CRIME WATCH

Fireworks set off at Sylvan Glen Golf Course

An employee from Sylvan Glen Golf Course, located at 5501 Rochester Road, reported that an unknown suspect set off fireworks sometime between 10 p.m. July 23 and at 6 a.m. July 24.

The fireworks were set off in the cup of the 16th green, as well as at a nearby portable bathroom.

The suspect also attempted to light the toilet paper dispenser on fire, causing damage.

Suspect damages Brinston Park restroom

A Troy city employee reported that he discovered damage to the restroom at Brinston Park, at 2250 Brinston St., between 11 p.m. July 21 and 7:30 a.m. July 22.

The damage came from an unknown suspect setting the paper towel dispenser on fire.

Credit union teller thwarts computer virus fraud

On July 19 at 9:29 a.m., a resident of Ottawa Drive reported that he received a notification that his computer had a virus and to contact the number provided.

Upon calling the number, the victim spoke to a woman who advised him that she would assist with fixing his computer. The victim agreed and gave the suspect his credit card information to pay the quoted charge.

The next day, the victim was contacted about his computer and advised it would be $100 less than expected and his bank account would be credited. The representative then informed the victim they accidentally refunded $100,000 instead of $100 and they needed him to return the overpayment.

He was advised to make the transaction through bitcoin to avoid a 3% fee from the bank. The representative stayed on the phone with the victim while he went to the bank and withdrew $10,000 before being directed to a bitcoin machine to process the transaction.

The victim was then instructed to go to another credit union and withdraw more money, but the teller recognized it was a scam and intervened.

Whole Foods Market scam results in fraudulent check deposit

A resident of Golfview Drive reported July 22 that she was contacted by an unknown suspect claiming to be from Whole Foods Market customer service.

The suspect requested the resident complete an evaluation and survey. The resident was sent a check for $1,795 and was told to deposit the check in her bank and purchase $1,300 in Nordstrom gift cards. The victim deposited the check, and after believing it had cleared, she purchased the gift cards and provided the card numbers to the suspect.

The victim was later contacted by her bank and was advised that the check she had deposited was fraudulent.

Driver of missing U-Haul van arrested with cocaine

Troy officers were alerted to a stolen U-Haul Chevrolet Express van in the area of Rochester Road and Century Drive at 7:58 p.m. July 22.

Officers were able to block the vehicle in the parking lot of a hotel and made contact with the lone occupant, a 36-year-old man from Buffalo, New York. The driver was arrested and was transported to the Troy police lockup facility.

During a search, officers located a clear baggie containing a fine white powder in the driver’s wallet. The substance later tested positive for cocaine.

The driver was charged with failing to return rental property valued at $20,000 or more and possession of cocaine.

Inebriated driver reported near 7-Eleven parking lot

Officers were dispatched to the 7-Eleven at 1650 Crooks Road for a possible intoxicated driver at 3:43 a.m. July 25.

Upon arrival, officers observed the reported 2011 Chevrolet Silverado parked on the grass between the 7-Eleven parking lot and Crooks Road, with the truck backed into a power pole support cable. Officers spoke with the driver, a

28-year-old woman from Mexico, and immediately noted a strong odor of intoxicants emanating from her person.

The driver was asked to perform several sobriety evaluations, which she performed poorly. She submitted to a preliminary breath test with a result of a 0.148% blood alcohol content.

She was issued a citation for operating while intoxicated.

Vehicle theft reveals cocaine possession

Troy officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle around East Big Beaver and John R Road July 22 at 2:33 p.m. and began surveillance on the 2003 Jeep Liberty. Officers boxed in the vehicle and took the driver, a 25-year-old Highland Park woman, into custody.

The steering column housing was missing from the bottom of the steering wheel, the ignition was heavily damaged, and there was suspected crack cocaine in the driver-side door panel.

The driver was charged with receiving and concealing a motor vehicle, and possession of cocaine.

Intoxicated driver apprehended after striking median

Officers were dispatched to southbound Interstate 75 and Maple Road July 27 at 5:04 a.m. for a road hazard reported to be a tow company requesting assistance blocking traffic while they towed a vehicle.

Officers found a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta with severe crash damage partially on the left shoulder and partially in the left lane.

The driver, a 23-year-old man from Rochester, said he had been traveling down the highway when his tire blew out, but he denied hitting anything. The driver eventually admitted to losing control of the vehicle and striking the median.

His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his speech was slurred, and there was an odor of intoxicants emitting from his person. He submitted to a preliminary breath test with a result of a 0.11% blood alcohol content. He was issued a citation for operating while intoxicated.

Pantera

titude and that’s how Fridenberg met his future wife, Chris. She knew Fridenberg’s friend first, and when the couple married 33 years ago, he was best man at their wedding.

Three years ago, Fridenberg purchased a 1972 DeTomaso Pantera. He drives it every chance he can. Fridenberg first became familiar with the Pantera as a kid. When he headed to the bus stop each morning for school, he’d walk past a neighbor’s yellowhued model.

Several years back, Fridenberg owned a Porsche 911 Turbo, but after a while he wanted a different car. When looking to replace it, he turned to someone he knew who owned an exotic car consignment business. He hadn’t planned on owning a Pantera but soon changed his mind after spotting the vehicle on the business website.

“When I saw this, it kind of rekindled the memory,” Fridenberg said. “Having worked for Ford, the fact it has a Ford motor in it just kind of got me excited to arrange to buy one. We arranged a swap.”

Fridenberg’s Pantera was originally red, but a previous owner painted it mandarin copper metallic.

“It’s a Ford color. It was used on Mustangs and SUVs in the early 2000s,” Fridenberg said. “This color really makes the car pop. The metallic makes the lines show up more.”

The Pantera has the original body, but because the car sat for so long, Fridenberg did a lot of work to get it road-ready.

“When the Panteras were originally made and developed, the quality wasn’t very good. So over the years a lot of owners had to do upgrades,” he said. “I pretty much had to fix every system on the car. The cooling system had problems with overheating. The horns didn’t work. The windows didn’t go up and down. The seats wouldn’t go back and forth. The brakes had to be rebuilt.”

With his automotive knowledge, Fridenberg was able to overhaul the car. He has also connected with other Pantera owners through clubs online, and has read up a lot on the car’s history. According to his research, the mid-engine sports car was made in Italy as a joint venture with the Ford Motor Co.

“As a retired Ford engineer, I was honored to purchase this car and show it off, as it is a unique part of Ford’s history,” he said. “The design is over 50 years old, but it’s still very modern.”

It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. He takes it out often, including in the wintertime if the weather is favorable and the

Robert Fridenberg likes to take his

out for drives as often as possible. The Pantera’s Ford motor made the car especially attractive to Fridenberg, a retired Ford engineer.

roads are dry. It always draws interest at local car shows.

“Bakers of Milford is a big one, and I take it to some of the cars and coffees around here,” the classic car owner said.

But he’d rather drive than sit. One favorite spot is cruising Hines Drive in Wayne County.

“It’s slow, but it’s a nice drive to go on. I usually go up to Newburgh Lake or I’ll go as far as Ann Arbor Trail with it,” he said. “There’s a nice road if you take Seven Mile west, it dead-ends at Whitmore Lake. That road has a lot of nice twisties. It’s a beautiful ride.”

Because the Pantera is so low to the ground, “it feels almost like a race car.” Fridenberg drives it during non-peak traffic times.

“It’s loud, it’s hot, there’s no electronics. It’s more like an event when you go for a drive, because you worry something is going to go wrong,” he said. “It just makes it more of an experience to take it out and drive it. People will pull up next to me. I can see them on their phones. They’ll roll their windows down and say, ‘What is that? Is that a Pantera?’ Everywhere you go someone wants to talk about it.”

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Pantera

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

AUG. 16-17

Woodward Dream Cruise: Officially held 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Aug. 17, participating cities along 16-mile radius of M-1 include Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township and Pontiac, more events for both days at woodwarddreamcruise.com

AUG. 17

Free Mall: Gently used clothing giveaway for all ages, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Calvary Chapel of Oakland County, 1975 E. Long Lake Road in Troy, (248) 457-9673

AUG. 18

Community pop-up market and clothing swap: Noon-4 p.m., Stumblebum Beer Co., 1965 W. Maple Road in Troy, (248) 307-7204, events@stumblebumbeer.com, bereworn.com

AUG. 22

Live music: Hear “Queen of the Blues” Thornetta Davis, 6:30-8:30 p.m., also food truck at 5:30 p.m., Boulan Park, 3671 Crooks Road in Troy, troymi.gov/summerconcerts

AUG. 24-25

Old-Time Radio Superhero Show: Mock performance of old scripts and commercials with live piano and sound effects, 7-9 p.m. Aug. 24 and 2-4 p.m. Aug. 25, Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, www. troyhistoricvillage.org/programs/old-time-radio-superhero-show

AUG. 29-SEPT. 2

Michigan State Fair: Activities include live music and entertainment, midway rides and games, agriculture and livestock showcases, Shrine Circus, Beginning of Life exhibit, competitions for giant pumpkins, home brewing, baking, singing and more, 5K, racing pigs and Rock-NRoll K-9’s, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 29-30, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 1 and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 2, Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave. in Novi, michiganstatefairllc.com

SEPT. 7

Road rally: 6-9 p.m., starts and ends at Congregation Shir Tikvah, 3900 Northfield Parkway in Troy, party with cash bar to follow, (248)

VIEW MORE! Visit candgnews.com/ calendar or use this QR code

CLASS REUNIONS

Franklin School - all alumni and family/friends: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 1 at Franklin Historical Museum, 26165 13 Mile Road, open house 2-4 p.m. at former Franklin School (now Huda School & Montessori), 32220 Franklin Road, and happy hour 4-6 p.m. at Franklin Community Association Park, 26495 Carol Ave., RSVP for happy hour by noon Aug. 31 at fcamichigan.org/form/m/284879

Cousino High School Class of 1969: 55-year reunion, classes of 1967-1971 also welcome, 7 p.m. Sept. 6, Roger’s Roost, 33262 Schoenherr Road in Sterling Heights, RSVP to Larry Wilk at lwilk@ comcast.net

Mount Clemens High School — all alumni: Cash food and

649-4418 (ext. 1), tessa@shirtikvah.org, www.shirtikvah.org/event/ road-rally-in-cst-parking-lot.html

SEPT. 8

White Chapel Patriots Race: Benefits Michigan Wounded and Returning Warrior Program, includes 10K, 5K and 1-mile run/walk, races follow moment of silence at 9:03 a.m. for victims of 9/11, course takes place inside White Chapel Memorial Park cemetery, 621 Long Lake Road in Troy, thepatriotsrace.com

ONGOING

Farmers market: 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays until Sept. 18, Stine Community Park, 241 Town Center in Troy, (248) 524-1147, troymi.gov/ farmersmarket

Car Cars & Classic Food: Also music, 50-50, prizes and giveaways, 5-8 p.m. Thursdays during summer, Big Boy, 200 W. Maple Road in Troy, (248) 362-0840

Line dancing and contra dancing: Sponsored by Oakland County Traditional Dance Society, line dancing from 7:30-9:30 p.m. every second Saturday of month and contra dancing from 7:30-10 p.m. every fourth

Saturday of month, also lessons for beginners at 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church of Troy, 6363 Livernois Ave., (248) 642-3306, info@ octds.org, facebook.com/OCTDS

WANT TO SEE YOUR OWN EVENTS ONLINE & IN PRINT — FOR FREE?

With the same link, click and sign in using your Google or Facebook information, or easily create a CitySpark account.

Input the details, upload a photo and select “Review Changes,” then “Submit and Finish.”

Events should appear online within 2 hours, and will appear in print as space permits. There’s no limit as to how many you can submit.

refreshments, 5 p.m. Sept. 13, Rec Bowl, 40 Crocker Blvd. in Mount Clemens, contact Ron Hiestand at (586) 463-6386 or drron82@ yahoo.com with questions

Osborn High School Class of 1974: 50-year reunion includes dinner and open bar, 6-11 p.m. Sept. 20, Blossom Heath Inn, 24800 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, osborn1974.com

Grosse Pointe North High School Class of 1974: 50-year reunion includes cash bar, food stations, photo booth and GPN gift, 5:30 p.m. Sept. 21, Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, 788 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, also casual gathering 7 p.m. Sept. 20, WaterMark Bar and Grille, 24420 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, grossepointenorth1974.com

Thursday Walking Group: 6 p.m. Aug. 22, meet at Bemis Elementary, 3571 Northfield Parkway in Troy, then head to Boulan Park for laps while hearing music by Thornetta Davis and seeing funerary art inside Crooks Road Cemetery, then back to school for total of at least 2 miles, (248) 524-3570, info@thvmail.org, troyhistoricvillage.org/ programs/walking-group

• 6 p.m. Aug. 29, meet at Ridgedale Players, 1755 E. Long Lake Road in Troy, then traverse trails for 1.8-2.25 miles, (248) 524-3570, info@ thvmail.org, troyhistoricvillage.org/programs/walking-group

Widowed Friends events: Breakfasts for men only, 10 a.m. every first and third Thursday of month, Lukich Family Restaurant, 3900 Rochester Road in Troy, RSVP to Ed at (586) 909-1444

• Lunches 1:30 p.m. every second Thursday of month, Alibi of Troy, 6700 Rochester Road, RSVP to Joyce at (586) 323-6007

Monthly book clubs: Find meetups for romance, mystery, learning English, kids/beginners and more, Troy Public Library, 510 W. Big Beaver Road, troypl.org

Troy Newcomers: Social group for women, activities include golf, mah jongg, book club and more, meets at various times and locations, clubactivities@troynewcomers.com, troynewcomers.com

For questions, email calendar@candgnews.com

SOUTHFIELD — At 1:30 p.m. July 11, a guest heard a knock on the door of her hotel room in the 27000 block of Northwestern Highway.

When the guest opened the door, there was a man with a gun pointing at her.

The guest ran out of the room and to the front desk, and the gunman fled the area. Nothing was taken and no one was injured during the incident.

Guitar stolen from car

SOUTHFIELD — Someone had their guitar stolen from their vehicle between 1:30 and 9:40 a.m. July 8 in the 26000 block of Berg Road, according to a police report.

$1K stolen in home invasion

SOUTHFIELD — Between 9 a.m. and 11:34 p.m. July 13, a resident discovered that her front door had been damaged, according to a police report. Approximately $1,000 in cash was taken from the home, located in the 26000 block of West 12 Mile Road.

Witness reports car stolen

SOUTHFIELD — A caller told Southfield police that they observed four to five males break out of a window of a 2023 Kia Forte at 12:37 a.m. July 14 in the 25000 block of Grodan Drive. The caller said the men started the car and left.

Police apprehend car thief

SOUTHFIELD — A 2021 Mazda CX-9 was stolen from the 28000 block of Franklin Road at 9:38 p.m. July 11. Officers located the stolen vehicle as it was leaving the immediate area, and a chase ensued.

The chase resulted in the suspect exiting the vehicle and fleeing on foot, but officers apprehended him.

Vehicle theft outside restaurant

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 9 p.m. July 12 and 3 a.m. July 14, an unknown person stole the complainant’s vehicle from his parking spot in the street at Hop Cat at 430 S. Main St.

Intoxicated driver found asleep outside Sunoco

TROY — Officers on patrol saw a suspicious vehicle at the Sunoco gas station at 5012 Rochester Road at 3:18 a.m. July 12.

The business was closed and the 2020 Ford F-150 was along the curb outside the front entrance.

The vehicle was running and the headlights were on.

The lone occupant was asleep in the driver’s seat with

Officers awoke the driver, a 56-year-old Macomb man. While speaking with him, they noted that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his speech was slurred, and there was an odor of intoxicants emitting from his person.

The driver was asked to perform several sobriety evaluations, and the officers noted that he performed poorly. He submitted to a preliminary breath test with a result of a 0.14% blood alcohol content.

He was arrested and transported to the Troy police lockup, where he agreed to submit to a chemical breath test, with a result 0.175%. He was issued a citation for operating with a blood alcohol content of 0.17% or more.

Fraudulent U.S. Immigration letter results in check scam

TROY — In December 2023, a Troy resident reportedly received a letter supposedly from U.S. Immigration, demanding a check payment of $137.20.

The resident sent the check to the address provided, but did not notice it had not been deposited.

In July, the resident was notified by their bank about an overdraft alert. Upon contacting their bank, the resident discovered an unknown suspect had altered the check, changing the payee and increasing the amount to $9,500.

Shoplifting incident reveals possession of illegal substance

TROY — On July 19, at 11:05 a.m., police officers were notified by Kohl’s loss prevention officers of a retail fraud in progress and responded to the store at 500 John R Road.

The suspect, a 42-year-old Detroit man, was observed exiting the store with a duffel bag full of unpaid merchandise. Officers detained him, and he was escorted back to the security office.

Loss prevention officers inventoried the stolen merchandise and found 24 items worth $1.011.24 total. During a pat-down of the man, officers located a glass crack pipe in his pants pocket.

The suspect was arrested and transported to the Troy police lockup facility. During the booking process, lockup staff observed a brown powdery substance in the suspect’s sock. The substance later tested positive for heroin.

The suspect was charged with retail fraud and possession of a controlled substance.

Inebriated driver found slumped over in 7-Eleven parking lot

TROY — Officers were dispatched to the 7-Eleven at 3982 Crooks Road after a caller reported a tan

the driver appeared to be slumped over the center console at 1:41 a.m. July 18.

Upon arrival, officers knocked on the vehicle’s window and awoke the driver. While speaking with her, officers noted a strong odor of intoxicants emanating from the vehicle.

The driver was asked to perform several sobriety evaluations, and the officers noted she performed poorly. She submitted to a preliminary breath test, with a result of a 0.185% blood alcohol content.

The driver, a 47-year-old West Bloomfield woman, was arrested. During the impound of her vehicle, officers noted both the front and rear passenger tires were flat.

The case was turned over to the Detective Bureau for appropriate charges.

Suspect fraudulently orders products using another person’s account

TROY — A resident of Dorchester Road reported July 13 that an unknown suspect gained access to his Amazon account.

The suspect ordered $450 worth of products to be delivered to an address that the resident was unfamiliar with.

The resident became aware of the fraud when he received an email from Amazon notifying him that his purchases had been delivered.

Attempted

Vehicle Theft

NOVI — A man parked his rental car in a lot on Haggerty Road at 5 p.m. July 15, and when he returned to the vehicle at 7 a.m. the next day, he found that the rear passenger side window of the Dodge had been broken out and that some of the electrical components under the glove box had been tampered with. When officers arrived, they noted shattered glass inside the vehicle and on the ground. Officers also said in the report that a control module under the glove box had been pulled out and “obviously” tampered with. The center console tray had also been taken. Police searched the area but there were no cameras that would have recorded the incident.

Police make arrests for alleged fraud

NOVI — A man and a woman reportedly were caught making fraudulent transactions at 8:25 p.m. July 18 at Walmart in Novi. The couple was seen at the self-checkout attempting to commit fraud with an exchange of gift cards. In order to prevent the couple from leaving, the police officer handcuffed both of them pending investigation.

After viewing the security footage, police advised the couple that they were under arrest for fraud. They

released with a court date.

Purse snatched MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, an 85-year-old Troy resident had a purse stolen from a shopping cart in the 32000 block of John R Road between 4 p.m. and midnight July 13. Police were investigating.

AirPods stolen BERKLEY — A 38-year-old Hazel Park man was suspected of retail fraud July 8 at a cellphone store at 27861 Woodward Ave. According to the report, police were called to a T-Mobile store at 12:42 p.m. July 9 for a report of a larceny the day before. The manager told police a man came in and purchased items on his T-Mobile account. It was discovered after the man left the store that a pair of Apple AirPods had been taken. Security footage showed the suspect removing the AirPods from the