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News Updates - April 19 - 25, 2015
Statement from Prosecutor Worthy on the Video in the Melendez Case
At a press conference held on April 20, 2015 announcing charges against William Melendez, Prosecutor Worthy indicated that the first time her office found out that the arrest of Floyd Dent was captured on a police video tape was on March 23, 2015 from a WDIV news report.
On January 30, 2015, when the warrant was presented, it contained a brief reference to a police car video, omitting that it contained the arrest and assault of Floyd Dent. The video was not presented to the warrant prosecutor. On March 17th, a Wayne County assistant prosecutor reviewed the video in preparation for the preliminary examination in the case. On March 18th, Judge Sabrina Johnson viewed the tape and dismissed the Resisting and Obstructing charge against Mr. Dent. Prosecutor Worthy was not made aware of the video until a week after the preliminary examination when she saw the WDIV report. These facts have no impact on the decision to dismiss the Possession of Cocaine charge against Mr. Dent and to charge Defendant William Melendez.
William Melendez - Former Inkster Police Officer William Melendez, 46, is charged with one count of Misconduct in Office Mistreatment of a Prisoner (five year maximum penalty) and one count of Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm Less than Murder (10 year maximum penalty). He is expected to be arraigned today in 22nd District Court at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Sabrina Johnson.
The case against Floyd Dent will be dismissed before Judge David Groner at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2015.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
UPDATE: Floyd Dent - The Possession of Cocaine case against Floyd Dent was dismissed before Judge David Groner today.
William Melendez - Former Inkster Police Officer William Melendez, 46, is charged with one count of Misconduct in Office Mistreatment of a Prisoner (five year maximum penalty) and one count of Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm Less than Murder (10 year maximum penalty). He was arraigned today in 22nd District Court and received a bond of $25,000 cash/surety bond and a probable cause hearing date of date of May 6, 2015.
Man Charged with Multiple Rape Cases in Detroit
Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Michael Sykes, 21 (DOB: 1/16/94) of Detroit, in connection with two sexual assault cases, one that occurred in 2008 and another case that occurred in March of this year.
On August 24, 2008, at approximately 2:30 a.m. in an alley at Wisconsin/Cortland in Detroit, two women, who are currently ages 25 and 26*, were kidnapped, sexually assaulted and robbed. Sykes has been charged with two counts of Kidnapping, six counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct, and two counts of Unarmed Robbery.
On March 29, 2015 at 12:00 a.m. in the morning at a location near Fenkell and Schaefer, it is alleged that Sykes kidnapped, sexually and physically assaulted and robbed three women, ages 19, 20 and 21. He has been charged with three counts of Kidnapping, nine counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree, two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct Second Degree, two counts of Armed Robbery, three counts of Felonious Assault and Felony Firearm.
The facts and evidence in both cases will be introduced at the preliminary examination.
"I would like to commend the work of the Detroit Police Department, but our work is not done. We will continue to investigate any other cases related to this suspect," said Prosecutor Worthy.
Sykes was arraigned and remanded to jail today on both cases in 36th District Court. The Probable Cause Hearing is scheduled for April 29, 2015 and the Preliminary Examinations are scheduled for May 6, 2015.
*Please contact the Detroit Police Department to confirm the ages of the women at the time the crime occurred in 2008.
Derick Felton - Defendant charged with possessing dogs that severely attacked a Detroit man. The arraignment on the information was held today before Judge David Groner. The docket conference is scheduled for May 6, 2015 at 8:30 am.
ALCO Transportation Truck Driver Charged with Manslaughter
Today Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Miho Saljic, 48 (DOB: 3/24/67), of Sterling Heights in connection with a fatal car crash that killed Heather Deshawn Warren of Inkster. The defendant is an employee of ALCO Transportation and the victim was an employee of U.S. Steel. It is alleged that Saljic struck and killed Ms. Warren on April 18, 2015 at approximately 1:00 p.m. at 1 Quality Drive in Ecorse. It is alleged that while he was backing up his work semi-truck trailer loaded with steel coils he struck and killed Ms. Warren.
Saljic has been charged with Manslaughter, a felony that carries a 15 year maximum penalty. At this time the arraignment has not occurred. Updated information will be released regarding the arraignment in 26th District Court in Ecorse when it is received.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Detroit Man Charged in Death of Checker Cab Driver
Jalen Edwards, 21 (DOB: 3/24/94), of Detroit, has been charged in connection with the homicide of Babul Miah, 41, who was killed on March 23, 2015 at 11:10 p.m. Mr. Miah was on duty as a Checker Cab driver when it is alleged that Edwards robbed and fatally shot him at gunpoint in front of a location in the 15700 block of Ardmore in the City of Detroit. Edwards has been charged with First Degree Murder, Felony Murder, Armed Robbery and Felony Firearm.
Edwards was arraigned and remanded to jail on April 21, 2015 before Magistrate Charles Anderson. His Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for April 28, 2015 at 8:30 a.m.; his preliminary exam is scheduled for May 5, 2015 at 9:00 a.m., both before Judge Holmes.
Please contact the Detroit Police Department for a photograph of the defendant.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Wyandotte Woman Charged in Newborn Infant's Death
Today Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Kimberly Pappas, 25 (DOB: 8/27/89), of Wyandotte, in connection with the death of her newborn child. On March 31, 2015 at approximately 9:30 a.m., it is alleged that Ms. Pappas gave birth to a live, full term child in the bathroom of her workplace located in the 24400 block of Glendale in Redford, Michigan. After the birth, it is further alleged that she sealed the infant in a plastic bag and then placed it in a tote bag near her desk. An employee alerted the Redford Fire Department, who came to the scene and attempted resuscitation efforts on the child. The child was immediately taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead at 11:55 a.m.
Ms. Papas has been charged with Felony Murder, Premeditated Murder, and Child Abuse First Degree. She is expected to be arraigned at noon today before Judge Karen Khalil in 17th District Court in Redford.
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