Here is an update from our local paper:
Burger King employees shaken, but uninjured
By Jackie Harrison-Martin, The News-Herald
PUBLISHED: March 26, 2008
BROWNSTOWN TWP. — Four employees were forced into a cooler at gunpoint by two men early Saturday morning during a robbery at Burger King, 32400 Telegraph Road.
Within 15 minutes of receiving the report, township officers had tracked down the suspects and two police dogs were sniffing out evidence and stolen property.
Township residents Bennette Mark Paige Jr., 30, and Jamarion Lamar Hayes-Coaster, 19, were arraigned yesterday before 33rd District Judge James Kersten.
They are charged with four counts of armed robbery, punishable by up to life in prison; auto theft, a four-year felony; and felony use of a firearm, a mandatory two-year offense.
Bond was set at $100,000 cash for each man; they remained jailed yesterday morning.
A preliminary examination of the evidence against them is set for April 8.
Lt. Robert Grant said both have confessed to committing the crimes.
Police received a 911 call at about 1 a.m. from an employee at the restaurant, saying there had just been a robbery.
According to Sgt. Jeff Watson, the two men hid near the back door, waiting for an employee to come out for a smoke break.
The employees told officers the men had an AK-47 assault riffle.
The employees told police they were ordered to the floor and their cell phones were taken.
"The manager was ordered to open the safe, and they got about $1,400," Watson said.
According to police, the men took the keys to a Ford minivan that belonged to one of the employees and fled.
Watson said the employees were able to figure out where the emergency release was in the cooler and called police. They were shaken but unharmed, police said.
Watson did not know what the temperature was in the cooler.
An off-duty police officer working security at The Hamptons of Brownstown, 18537 W. Pine St., spotted the vehicle being driven recklessly into the parking lot of the complex.
When the minivan was parked in the back of the complex, the officer sensed something was wrong and called the station to give the license plate number.
The off-duty officer had no idea there had been an armed robbery. Police knew within minutes they had a lead on the two suspects.
Upon their arrival, Watson and other officers found fresh footprints in the snow. Flat Rock's police dog, Rocco, along with Woodhaven's police dog, Jax, were brought to the scene in response to Brownstown's request for a police dog.
As police began to track the scent, officers spotted Paige and Hayes-Coaster walking behind the building.
Watson said that when the two saw the officers, a foot pursuit began.
Following the footprints, officers were led to an apartment and talked to a woman who allowed them inside.
"We found one man in the bathroom and the other in the bedroom," Watson said. "They were changing clothes. One man had jumped into the shower. They surrendered peacefully."
Watson said that judging from the information and evidence gathered, this appears to be the first time the pair pulled such a caper.
Police said Paige lives at the apartment where they were captured and is a former employee of the restaurant.
According to police, Hayes-Coaster also lives in the complex.
Watson said police were very concerned that the men were armed and dangerous because restaurant employees were not sure if there were two guns or one.
There turned out to be one assault riffle, Watson said.
It was Rocco who led officers to clothing and some of the money that had been ditched nearby.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the apartment, where a good deal of evidence also was recovered, Watson said.
Grant said the two told police additional cash and the weapon could be found in another apartment in the complex, which they located.
Police believe they have recovered almost $1,000 of the money.
From the time the 911 call was made, Paige and Hayes-Coaster were captured within about 15 minutes, according to police.
"This was a classic example of good teamwork," Watson said. "There were four officers and myself on this, and Chief Dennis Richardson was out working with us, too. Grant headed the detectives investigating, and they got the search warrant."
The chief also expressed his pride in the fast action of the officers.
No one was hurt in the ordeal.
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