LATHRUP VILLAGE, Mich. – A prominent Lathrup Village community leader was taken into custody on Monday after Oakland County investigators raided his home.
Sources confirmed to Local 4 that the search warrant was carried out by the Oakland County Auto Theft Task Force.
As of Monday evening, no charges had been filed.
Friends and neighbors identified the man as Mark Watts.
Records show Watts owns Quality Auto Sales in Detroit, with an office located just minutes from his home.
He is also the founder of a youth mentoring program called “Boys 2 Men” and serves as president of the Lathrup Village Chamber of Commerce.
Search warrants executed, evidence removed
Deputies were seen removing several guns from the home, along with large bags of evidence.
Investigators photographed multiple vehicles in the driveway, including one with a “For Sale” sign in the windshield.
They also removed several license plates and towed away vehicles.
Lathrup Village police released a statement saying two search warrants were executed, but noted that officers were not part of the investigation.
Local 4 reached out to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office but had not received additional details as of Monday evening.
Watts was walked out of the home in handcuffs, placed in the back of a squad car, and taken away.
Neighbors, friends left stunned
The raid caught neighbors and friends off guard.
Damon Knight, who identified himself as a friend of Watts, said the scene was unlike anything he had witnessed in the neighborhood.
“I just came out of my house, and I’m like, there’s police cars all over the grass for what?” Knight said.
Knight described Watts as a well-regarded figure in the community and struggled to make sense of what unfolded.
“This is a good community. He’s a good guy,” Knight said. “I mean, what are they doing with the cars. He sells cars. Why are they messing with his vehicles?” Knight said.
No charges filed
As of Monday (May 4) evening, Watts had not been charged with any crime.
Being taken into custody does not necessarily mean charges will be filed.
Local 4 is continuing to seek more information from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and will update this story as details become available.