Full Notification

The preliminary investigation of the armed robberies at the Brooklyn Party Shop and the Marathon Station on Page Avenue in Leoni Township has concluded with the arrest of an 18-year old male from Liberty Township.

At approximately 8:21 P.M. on Thursday, January 12, 2017, an armed robbery at the Marathon Station on Page Avenue in Leoni Township was reported to 911. The victim reported a lone white male entered the store, produced a pistol, and demanded money. He fled the store on foot, and then in a nearby vehicle.

Blackman-Leoni Public Safety responded and initiated their investigation. A description of the suspect was broadcast to local agencies, and approximately a half-hour later (at approximately 8:44 P.M.), the clerk at the Brooklyn Party Shop in the Village of Brooklyn reported being robbed at gunpoint. Columbia Township Police responded and initiated the investigation, with the suspect having fled in a vehicle, prior to the arrival of police.

Video surveillance from both the Marathon and the Brooklyn Party Shop was reviewed, and relevant footage retained as evidence. As the suspect in both crimes was described as the same person, wearing the same clothing, Columbia Township Police and Blackman-Leoni Public Safety began quickly coordinating the investigation and exchanging information and evidence, as well as compiling additional evidence.

Local businesses were contacted for possible information, and a video of the suspect vehicle from a nearby business was located from earlier in the day, which showed the vehicle clearly, but not the license plate. Sgt. Niles recognized the vehicle, and then the suspect, from having issued a traffic citation to him, in that vehicle, in 2016.

By that time, Detective Shayne Allen responded to Columbia Township to directly participate and assist in the investigation. Niles and Allen then responded to the suspect’s residence in Liberty Township, where they located the 18 year-old suspect standing outside the residence, preparing to leave.

The vehicle used in the crimes was impounded from the suspect’s residence, he was taken in to custody, and shortly thereafter, the weapon, a semi-automatic 9 mm pistol, was recovered as well. The suspect was transported to the Jackson County Jail, where he was lodged on multiple counts from each agency related to the two armed robberies in both Leoni Township and Columbia Township. Reports requesting charges will be forwarded to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for review and issuance of charges.

This case was resolved quickly do to great initial police work, as well as the cooperative effort by Blackman-Leoni Public Safety and Columbia Township Police, as well as the work of Officer Justin Shadis, Sgt. Jay Niles, and Blackman-Leoni Detective Shayne Allen.