Pittsfield Township police make arrest after armed robbery this morning
A couple was robbed by two gunmen in the parking lot of Spicetree Apartments in Pittsfield Township early today, police said.
Officers arrested a 24-year-old Ann Arbor man with a loaded gun minutes later, but it's not clear whether he was involved in the hold-up, police said.
The robbery occurred at about 2:25 a.m. in the 4800 block of Washtenaw Avenue as a man and woman were crossing the parking lot, said Gordy Schick, deputy director of police services for the township.
Two men approached with a handgun and stole a purse and cell phone, Schick said.
Responding officers saw a vehicle in the area driving at a high rate of speed and stopped the driver, Schick said. He was on parole and was carrying a loaded gun, Schick said.
But police have not confirmed that he was involved in the robbery, and he was the lone occupant in the car, Schick said. The man faces charges including carrying a concealed weapon and felon in possession of a firearm, a police news release said.
The victims of the robbery were unable to provide a description of one of the men and said the other was black, 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall, no facial hair, and was wearing a black puffy coat and two-tone baseball cap.
Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsfield Township police at 734-944-4911.
Comments
Ricebrnr
Tue, Dec 8, 2009 : 10:12 a.m.
@Bill, thanks for the clarification. On that point I agree with you. Not everyone has the mindset or capability to take on the responsibility of firearm ownership. I think it is much like cars/motorcycles/boats, not everyone should drive for the same reasons.
Bill
Tue, Dec 8, 2009 : 12:44 a.m.
Hey, I'm just saying guns aren't for everyone, including myself. I'm not denying your right to carry.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 2:37 p.m.
Thank you all for your positive comment and support. I take to heart that a lie left unchallenged becomes the truth. For too long we in the firearms community have stayed silent while lies and misinformation has propogated. We are partially to blame for this sorry state of affairs and I challenge you all to be as vocal in support of your rights as guaranteed (and NOT granted) by the Constitution. I take seriously my duty to evangalize and educate in a logical and (mostly) respectful manner. I would ask you to go ahead and type your thoughts out whenever you have a chance. Cheers and be safe.
M.
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 12:59 p.m.
Thanks for your comments ricebrnr, so I didn't have to type it all out! I don't think a whole lot of people have any clue how many law-abiding citizens own handguns. Most never have to use them, and most don't talk about them outside close friends because there are (obviously) such strong feelings for/against gun ownership.
djm12652
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 12:56 p.m.
ricebrnr...by gawd, you've got it! Ya know, if that couple had not gone out after dark, and had not taken their ID and cell phone out in a public place, this never would have happened...c'mon now, blaming the criminal element here? No way why it's anti]American! If we give up all of our personal freedoms and choices...we will all live in a happy village...except for those that will plunder and pillage...they are the ones that don't play fair...shame on them...let's have the police talk to them...
tdw
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 12:21 p.m.
only law abiding gun owners are bad
Ricebrnr
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 12:12 p.m.
ok ok castration is a bit extreme in my opinion BUT I say that we should bann all private ownership of vehicles. After all cars kill more people than lawful gun owners every year, not to mention drunk driving. Therefore I think for the safety of all that no more private vehicles = no more car accidents, right? We can all agree to give up our individual choice and convenience due to a few bad actors for the "good" of everyone, can't we?
djm12652
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 11:29 a.m.
@Bill, I agree with you, no one should have a gun, not even the police and military...we should be able to "talk" our way through any conflict...that being said, in order to eliminate another crime namely rape, I think all men should be castrated at the age of 21...that way no one would ever be sexually assaulted again either. And yes...that would mean punishing law-abiding citizens along with those that break the law...oh well, too bad.
tdw
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 11:01 a.m.
ricebrnr Because the are a product of the system and society and missed understood...silly boy
Ricebrnr
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 10:25 a.m.
@TDW, Thanks for the correction. I couldn't let that comment pass and ran that off last night just before bed. I realized this morning I needed to specify and didn't get a chance to do so and apologize for my spelling errors as well. That being said, I always wonder why felons are "allowed" to have things that law abiding citizens are not? Opposing lawful gun ownership is the same as opposing self defense. Look at England and Australia and see how much "gun" crime and crime in general has reduced since they've banned citizen ownership of guns. It's worse than ever for their citizens. Why? Because the criminals continue to get their hands on illegal items as criminals have always done. Alchohol was prohibited one time as well and how did that work out? Lots of drtugs are illegal, how's that working out now. Again, why should criminals be allowed to run rampant when the simple obvious solution is to level the playing field. Look at Kennesaw, GA's crime rate versus their neigboring cities. Coincidence?
tdw
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 9:06 a.m.
Ricebrnr Quick small correction You do not need a permit nor regester a shotgun or long gun in Michigan only handguns. even if you inherit a hand gun from a parent who has died you still need a permitWith that being said,Everything else about background checks which you need valid Id and answer questions about criminal,mental background. history checks is correct.You can't go to a gun show and walk out with a gun without being processed through a state and federial background check.
KeepingItReal
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 8:07 a.m.
Clara,ezbngreen,c6: Please let me reference my remarks by first of all stating that I am opposed to handguns being the hands of anyone legally or illegally especially outside the law enforcement community, and even then, some of then need to be tightly regulated. Just last week, in Pittsfield Township, someone legally carrying a handgun shot and killed another person. I don't know the particulars of the situation. However, one thing I would like to point out is that once a person commits a felon, it is almost impossible for them to get a legitimate job so most of them resort to the only means of survival they no. Many of them do not have a level of education that will allow them to resume a regular life once they are released from prison. If we are concerned about guns being in the hands of felons, let's lobby our congressmen and lawmakers and those in the penal system to come up with a better plan to prepare convicted felons to resume a somewhat normal life once they are returned to society and are living among us. Do you realize that the construction and running of jails is such a big business now that companies that construct and run them are listed on wall street and you can invest in them. This whole system is predicated on the belief that once released, these individuals are going to do something and the only thing they know in most cases is how to commit crime. Until we as a society change our attitude about rehabilitating convicted felons, we can complain all we want to, we can expect the exact same thing that we are now getting. We can complain all we want to and our politicians can make all the political hay about being "tough of crime," but all they are doing is putting you and I and other law abiding citizens in greater harm. Until we change our fundamental thinking on this matter, convicted felons will continue to get handguns and commit crimes, our system will continue to convict them, we will continue to pay to house, fed and care for them and we will not be any safer in our community. I too question the efficacy of the MPRI.
y not
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 : 12:32 a.m.
my cousin was on paroll and he but a gun at the Bill Goodman Gun & knife Show, and the morning the A.T.F. kicked in my aunt's door and took him to jail, so no, not just anyone can purchase a firearm in MI.
Ricebrnr
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 11:24 p.m.
Please please co a little research before you regurgitate inaccurate "facts". In order to purchase a firearm you need to get a purchase permit first. At which time you go through a background check. Then when you actually go to buy the firearm, be it at a store or at a gun show from a dealer you have another background check by the dealer through NICS. The you have the pleasure of registering said firearm. Private purchases which I believe is what you ar referring to STILL require a purchase permit in MI. The private seller does not need to run a background check but the polic have already done it anyway. Now how many criminals have to jump through those hoops to buy a gun? ZERO, ZILCH, NADA. Why? Because criminals don't buy their guns from law abiding sellers do they?
tdw
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 10:55 p.m.
LGChelsea You obviously have never been to a gun show or tried to purchase an gun at one ( in Michigan at least ).You're wrong on all counts
LGChelsea
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 10:02 p.m.
Ricebrnr: What do you mean? All one has to do is go to a gun show. Mentally ill? No problem. Convicted felon? No problem. Sexual predator? No problem. Take your pick, get a weapon. No questions asked.
cinnabar7071
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 8:26 p.m.
A felon, on parole, with a loaded handgun, driving at a high rate of speed. Wow, what's his hurry to get back to prison?
Ricebrnr
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 8:08 p.m.
@Bill, Let me see if I am getting the gist of your comment.. So "we" in the firearms community should refrain from suggesting viable solutions in "these" types of articles even though they are within the comment guidelines and germaine to both the topic and comments? Perhaps our comments should be restricted to such as: never go out alone, don't go out at odd hours, make sure your doors are locked etc etc ad nauseum? And the moderating team should be more relaxed about their duties even though the guidelines are well posted and one can choose to make their points within it? Seems the commone denominator is neither the AnnArbor.com staff or the CPL comments....
Bill
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 2:01 p.m.
Every story like this turns up a comment about how everyone should have a CPL. I would also like to say the amount of community moderating the AnnArbor.com staff is doing is turning me away from the site. If it continues, I don't see myself visiting for much longer.
Ricebrnr
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 1:51 p.m.
Hey a felon with a firearm?!?!? That's not possible is it? I mean there are laws against this! Meanwhile law abiding citizens continue to have to put up with negative attitudes and jump through hoops daily in relation to owning firearms. Why? Because laws only apply to the law abiding.
bdub1
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 1:26 p.m.
Washtenaw county residents get your CPL NOW!!! crime is on the rise.
C6
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 11:10 a.m.
Wow, another good nab by the Pittsfield Township police. They've been doing very well lately. My thanks to them, for the good work.
ezbngreen
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 11:02 a.m.
Rofl, Clara I needed a good laugh! I couldn't have said it better. I bet he is....
clara
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 : 10:56 a.m.
A parolee with a gun, I wonder if he is another fine MPRI graduate?