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Home invasion suspect in custody after hiding in a residence for four hours

Posted at 10:30 AM, Jan 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-10 20:17:07-05

COOPER TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Michigan State Police blocked off ‘D’ Avenue between 14th Street and Douglas Avenue for several hours Wednesday morning when a man broke into a residence and would not leave, they said.

“‘Please come out with your hands up,’” said neighbor Mark St. Marin reciting what he heard on the loudspeaker. “‘Come out with your hands up sir,’ something like that so. Sounds like a male.”

St. Martin said he came home from work for a brief visit and saw police cars everywhere.  He was told by authorities that a neighbor dialed 911 after he caught someone trying to break into another neighbor's home. Startled, the suspect ran away. 

“The suspect had gotten into a vehicle and left the area [and] became stuck,” said Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller. “Ultimately he jumped out of that vehicle, ran towards the house next door.”

Sheriff Fuller said he broke into that residence and hid. Once law enforcement arrived on the scene, they took a slow and methodical approach to try and lure him out. After nearly four hours, he didn’t budge. 

“We gave him every opportunity to turn themselves in,” said Sheriff Fuller. “We went into the residence and apprehended them.”

No one was injured in the incident and the suspect was taken to jail. The way the entire incident was handled Sheriff Fuller considered to be a success, in part because of the new alert system they unveiled last August. It sends alerts via text, email and phone calls to schools, county officials and news agencies whenever breaking news occurs. Everyone in the area knew what was going on and knew to steer clear of ‘D’ Avenue Wednesday morning.

“We were very fortunate that in the area where this took place we had the calls go out to those entities,” said Sheriff Fuller.