Warrants issued for arrest of 2 Saline teens in armed robbery of marijuana dealer
This story has been updated with the full charges each teen faces
Two Saline teenagers are wanted by police in the armed robbery of a marijuana dealer in late July and could face up to life in prison.
The 16-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl are being charged as adults in connection with the July 27 robbery of a Saline teenager, who was looking to sell an ounce of marijuana to the girl. The 16-year-old boy faces 2 armed robbery charges and 1 count of assault with a dangerous weapon and the 15-year-old girl faces 2 counts of armed robbery.
According to the police report from the incident, the teenagers were hanging out when the teenage girl said she would like to smoke some pot. However, the boy pointed out that neither of them had any money, at which point the girl suggested that they simply steal some from a dealer they both know, according to police.
Police said the girl called the dealer and set up a deal in front of the dealer’s girlfriend’s home. The teenager called the dealer to let him know she was coming down the block and the dealer came outside of the home with his girlfriend, who was taking out the trash, according to the report.
Not long after the female suspect had called the dealer, 4 people jumped him, and 1 person pointed a black gun at him, according to the report. The male suspect allegedly stole the marijuana and struck the dealer in the head before leaving the scene, police said.
Warrants in the case were issued this morning, according to court records. The report indicates Washtenaw County prosecutors will charge both teenagers as adults.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
dogpaddle
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 : 5:17 p.m.
Um, Mr. Ed, your neighbor nor your neighborhood 7-11 are usually not robbed at gunpoint for their 6 packs because anyone (over 21 and who has money) can go get a 6 pack any time any where. Prior to last week, those who were legitimately in need of (obviously the need does not apply to these young criminals) their medical marijuana, could simply walk into their neighborhood dispensary. Last time I checked, kids who want beer and don't have money or a fake ID, have been known to walk into stores and just steal. So my point is, the issue here is not marijuana, but bad kids who made very bad choices.
snoopdog
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 : 12:37 a.m.
Being charged as adults ( a good thing) but then they won't or cannot release their names to the public ( ridiculous). 16 and 15 years old, they are old enough to know this would land them in a bunch of trouble. Frankly, a 10 year old would as well. Give us their names, their parents should have to reimburse the courts for the entire costs ! Good Day
Grimey
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 11:03 p.m.
It's illegal to sell any kind of gun to a person under 18 in the state of Michigan, so, another question we should all be asking ourselves is "How'd this minor get a handgun?".
johnnya2
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 9:31 p.m.
These kids might want to rethink how they get their drugs int he future. Robbing Busch's in Saline will get you a jail sentence, robbing a drug dealer can get you and your family killed.
cinnabar7071
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 7:24 p.m.
Kyle Feldscher do you have any info on where the gun came from, and why no charges for just having the gun?
cinnabar7071
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 : 12:54 p.m.
Kyle what was his response? Did he tell you it was none of your busines? Are you waiting on a response? Did he answer the question but told you to keep it secret? Is he hiding something? Are you hiding something? Did Det. Don Lupi threaten you if you reported on this? What gives?
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 8:58 p.m.
cinnabar - I spoke with Det. Don Lupi this afternoon and specifically asked.
cinnabar7071
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.
"the police report did not specifically mention." Did you ask? Or just copy and paste?
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 7:26 p.m.
No direct information on where the gun came from, the police report did not specifically mention. There is a charge for assault with a dangerous weapon.
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.
For those asking, there have been no charges filed against the victim for possessing drugs. There was no mention of any police action taken against the victim for possessing or dealing drugs in the report that I reviewed earlier this week. If that information had been available, I would have published it, but police have said there is no action taken against the victim at this time.
djacks24
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 7:07 p.m.
Lesson learned from article (or construed from the writing of the article): Rest assured that it is illegal for Pot dealers to be robbed at gunpoint in Saline. If you are a pot dealer that has been robbed at gunpoint in Saline, the armed robbers should be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
obviouscomment
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 7:07 p.m.
So are their names unknown? If they are "wanted" by police and are going to be charged as adults, wouldn't it be appropriate to publish their names so people could give tips or turn them in?
Judy
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 6:41 p.m.
This story is missing what happened to the "Dealer" and "his girlfriend"? I thought dealing marijuana and having it in your home was a crime? I think this is very poor writing on the part of Kyle Feldscher.
RJA
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 4:32 p.m.
@Woman in Ypsilanti....I don't condone their actions either, but I agree they should be tried as adults. They may not make it to adulthood if they are not charged as adults. In my opinion, the dealer should be charged too. In Saline or not in Saline.
Lovaduck
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 4:28 p.m.
Glad it didn't happen in Ypsilanti where the remarks would be divided between, " So what ELSE is new?" or "See, it couldn't happen here in Ann Arbor of bucolic, pure communities like Saline!"
ICanSeeClearlyNow
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
What? I've read over and over again how pot use only makes you mellows. Maybe I've been deceived by the pro-pot users & dealers?
ICanSeeClearlyNow
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 : 4:29 p.m.
Clownfish. Only if they smoked the jewelry and it affected their brains.
clownfish
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 : 12:26 p.m.
So, if someone robs a jewelry store, that would be an example of the harmful effects of jewelry?
ICanSeeClearlyNow
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 10:43 p.m.
Ignatz, The thieves set out to and actually stole pot. They did not steal cash or jewelry. They therefore were desperate enough to get pot that they were willing to risk someone's life to get their fix. It was both the chemical effects of the pot on the thieves brains, and the availability of the drug itself that directly caused this crime. This occurrence was just one clear example of the danger of pot.
Ignatz
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 6:15 p.m.
ICanSeeClearlyNow, In spite of what law enforcement and promoters of fear may tell you, being high and having THC present in your system are often two different things. However, to speak to your point of violence and marijuana, there are violent and unethical people who use it. I don't think that the weed is the cause of it, though.
ICanSeeClearlyNow
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 4:46 p.m.
trs80, I see, so either this was the first time use for these criminals or they hadn't used in a long enough time (maybe a week) for the THC to clear from their system. Since it is highly unlikely that these users robbed someone for a chemical they hadn't used before, it must be the latter. In any case, they robbed someone at gunpoint to get their fix and must have a severe dependency problem. Or, maybe I was just deceived like I said, and pot does not mellow its users as claimed by pot users and dealers.
trs80
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 4:30 p.m.
They were not "high" during the time of the incident. That means during the crime MJ did not play a factor in the mental state of the accused.
ffej440
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 4:20 p.m.
We all know the charges will be plead down to nothing, so these kids will grow up to learn how to play the system. The last two convicted of the same thing (Except they murdered) only got 17and 35years. Life- What a joke !
Woman in Ypsilanti
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:47 p.m.
I have to admit that while I do not in any way condone this sort of thing, I am not sure that I agree that these kids should be charged as adults. They are not adults.
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 7:50 p.m.
I don't see the point of giving someone a free pass just because of age. No one who turns to a life of crime, even in his or her 30s or 40s, could be said to be mature enough to make adult decisions on his or her own. Armed robbery unpunished at 15 or 16 becomes murder soon enough.
cinnabar7071
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 4:34 p.m.
But they are committing adult crimes, and where did the gun come from? Have to be 21 to own a hand gun. Why no mention of how these kids got a gun? Did they steal it, borrow it from someones parent?
nickcarraweigh
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:23 p.m.
This sounds lots more like a scheme a couple teenagers would have cooked up AFTER smoking large quantities of high-grade marijuana.
Belgium
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
Sure, but they would have been to high to act on it.
quetzalcoatl
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:21 p.m.
Kids as clueless as these should be locked up in the basement for their own protection and never allowed outside without adult supervision.
John A2
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.
Um, who's really at fault here? were they medical pot dealers? Is there someone who can give a complete story around? It sounds like it was all illegal, wasn't it?
Chris 8 - YPSI PRIDE
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
If a gun was not involved I bet the Saline Police would have told the dealer. "Have a nice day, we don't help drug dealers (HUH HMMMM excuse me illegal medicine dispensers) who get their illegal possessions robbed".
Mr. Ed
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:55 p.m.
Marijuana and violence. Violence and drugs appears to be so common. Never heard that kind of stuff with alcohol. Lets rob my neighbor for his 6 pack.
Arboriginal
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 8:35 p.m.
...with a wet noodle!
Arboriginal
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 8:34 p.m.
Yeah you rite cinnabar! I'll park the snark and give myself 40 lashes!!!
cinnabar7071
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 4:28 p.m.
Arboriginal wrote:"A fantastic revenue stream for our state." Is it really? Are you taking into account the cost of rehab or prison space occupied by alcohol abusers?
Woman in Ypsilanti
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:45 p.m.
Yeah that's right. No one has ever held up a liquor store in the history of the world. ;) Come on dude. Liquor stores are such common targets of armed robbery that "held up and robbed a liquor store" is a cliche.
kt rix
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:10 p.m.
they might not rob someone for alcohol, but i've known a few people to be rather 'mischievous' after a few drinks...
trs80
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:07 p.m.
I take it you did not read the article where the underage drunk smashed car windows with his fists? Or the alcoholic father who beat his children and wife?
Arboriginal
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:02 p.m.
I believe that is because the alcohol dealer is everywhere, and his drug is legal according to the laws of our state. Heavily taxed as well. A fantastic revenue stream for our state.
smokeblwr
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.
Sounds like a lot of work for just an ounce of weed. Nice to see the dealer didn't get in trouble though.
glimmertwin
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.
What? Drugs and violent crime in Saline? Say it isn't so!
Ignatz
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
These two alleged crooks caught a huge break. Don't they know what ordinarily happens when you rip off a drug dealer?
Bob
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.
keep in mind its a "Saline Drug Dealer" not your average Detroit Pusher Man..
Ricebrnr
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:31 p.m.
Guess the dealer missed the story that teaches MJ dealing is dangerous?