Fenton Woman Arrested on Heroin Charges; Thieves Target Rural Churches

The following is a roundup of crime reports from the areas around White Lake and Highland.

On Friday at approximately 10:20 p.m., two Fenton police cars were dispatched to Tropi-Tan on North Leroy Street, for a suspicious person locked in a restroom, Fenton Police Chief Rick Aro said.

Officers spoke with the manager of the business, who showed them the locked bathroom at the rear of the building.

Officers open the door and found a woman bent over holding a bottle of what she identified as witch hazel, he said. She appeared to be having some type of medical problem, and one of the officers saw a syringe and needle in her purse, Aro said.

Police found suspected heroin in her purse and arrested her for possession of the drug. Once it was determined her health was not a concern, they lodged her overnight in the Fenton lockup, police said. The evidence in her purse was seized, and the suspected heroin will be tested in a lab for identification, Aro said.

The woman, 23, lives in Fenton and is on probation, he said. Police contacted her probation officer and are sending a report to the prosecutor for her possession of approximately 2 grams of suspected heroin.

Thieves Target Rural Churches

The Michigan State Police are asking residents for help to catch a group of thieves breaking into churches across southeast Michigan and Ohio.

The suspects may be connected to at least 45 incidents since August.

According to the Detroit News, the break-ins were reported in Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Livingston and Genesee counties, as well as Fulton County, Ohio.

Police investigating the break-ins speculate the crimes are connected, and that the suspects are probably looking for drug money. Rural churches, where pastors or parishioners may not be back for days after a service, are low-risk targets.

Dexter Patch previously reported that four churches in western Washtenaw communities were targeted — including Lima and Bridgewater townships.

Most of the churches targeted didn't have security systems, and were broken into by prying open windows and doors. According to police, the suspects ransacked offices, rifled through drawers and forced open safes. Officials said they've gotten away with cash and computers.

If you have information on any of these incidents or recognize the photos, contact Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 1-800-SPEAKUP or the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office confidential tip line number at 734-973-7711.

Man Sleeping in Highland Church Arrested on Breaking and Entering Charges

A 23-year-old Fenton man was arrested in Highland after deputies say he broke into Cornerstone Church in Highland. The man was found by police sleeping inside the church.

According to the report, deputies were called to the church on the 4900 block of Hickory Ridge Road on the morning of Dec. 3.

"When we first responded we checked the church and didn't find anyone," Det. Jim Bowie said. "We got called back 40 minutes later and found the man sleeping in the church."

The report states that the man had some of the church's electronic equipment with him, including a camera. "We think he might have intended to take the items from the church, but fell asleep," Bowie said.

The man was arraigned earlier this week on one count of breaking and entering. He was given a $10,000 cash bond and remains in Oakland County Jail.

Body Found in Farmington Hills Creek Identified as Missing Howell Man

The Novi Police Department has identified remains found in Farmington Hills as that of a man missing from his Novi business office in June, according to a press release.

On June 14, Patrick Keough, a 38-year-old, Howell resident walked away from his office on Cabot Drive in Novi, leaving behind written communication indicating he may harm himself. The disappearance prompted an extensive, several month search that included area canvasses by police officers, helicopters, the Novi Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and several K-9 teams from the Novi Police Department and Michigan Search and Rescue. In addition, several members of the Keough family organized a search for him shortly after he disappeared.

On Tuesday, Dec. 4, the Farmington Hills Police Department received a call from a private contractor reporting he found human remains in a heavily wooded area near Halsted and Thirteen Mile Roads. Upon further investigation, a severly decomposed body was found in a creek bed. The remains were taken to the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office for a post-mortem examination.

The remains have been positively identified by the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office as Patrick Keough. The cause of death is yet to be determined but does not appear to be suspicious in nature.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Keough family,” said Novi Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police David Molloy. “Although this brings closure to Mr. Keogh’s disappearance, it is by no means the outcome for which we were hoping.”