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OAKLAND COUNTY JAIL

Orion Township man arrested after neighbor sees woman trying to escape mobile home through window

ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. – An Orion Township man was arrested for beating his pregnant girlfriend after a neighbor saw the woman trying to escape through a window of the mobile home, only to be pulled back in, according to police. A neighbor called police and told them a woman had made several attempts to exit the mobile home, only to be pulled back inside, deputies said. When officials went to the front door, they were met by a woman, and a man was in the living room, according to authorities. AdThe 22-year-old Orion Township man told deputies he and his pregnant girlfriend, an 18-year-old Orion Township woman who also lived at the home, got into an argument about money, according to authorities. Police said the man told them he told his girlfriend to leave, but when she tried to do so he stopped her because she doesn’t have anywhere else to go.

Police arrest teen wanted in connection with deadly shooting outside Pontiac haunted house

PONTIAC, Mich. – Damon Parker Terrelle, 17, has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of a 29-year-old that happened Sunday, Sept. 27 outside Erebus haunted house of Pontiac. He is being held at the Oakland County Jail and was taken into custody shortly after 5 a.m. today. Police did not release more details and it is unclear exactly where Terrelle was arrested. UPDATE: Teen charged with murder in connection with fatal Pontiac shooting outside ErebusStay with Local 4 News and ClickOnDetroit as this story continues to develop.

Former Michigan priest charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct

FARMINGTON, Mich. – A former priest in the Farmington area has been charged with sexually assaulting a minor. The charges are part of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s investigation into sexual abuse within the seven Catholic dioceses across the state. Gary Berthiaume, 78, has been charged with one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. The victim was 14 years old at the time of the assault, officials said. Berthiaume was arrested in 1977 for sexual assault of two other minors in Michigan.

‘Highly intoxicated’ man bites Oakland County deputy, is arrested

ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A 24-year-old man was taken into police custody Friday morning after biting an Oakland County deputy. According to authorities, deputies were dispatched to Johnny Black’s Public House, located on Baldwin Road in Orion Township, just before 1 a.m. due to an intoxicated person. Police said the deputies provided several requests to back away while they continued their investigation, but the man did not comply. Police said a deputy attempted to escort the man away from the investigation when he pushed the deputy and while attempted to secure the man in handcuffs, the “highly intoxicated” man bit the deputy on his arm, drawing blood. The 24-year-old man was taken into custody and lodged at the Oakland County Jail, pending the issuance of a criminal charge.

Lawsuit claims man’s death in Oakland County Jail was avoidable

PONTIAC, Mich. – New video footage from inside the Oakland County Jail captured disturbing footage of a man in distress before he died. Video from the traffic stop captured deputies looking in Terrance Vaughn’s mouth before taking him to the Oakland County Jail. The family filed a civil rights lawsuit against the deputies, the jail staff and Oakland County based on what happened next. “It spoke volumes that there wasn’t a lot of care there for his life,” Jada Vaughn said. Oakland County officials said they will fight the lawsuit in court.

Pontiac man charged with homicide after confessing to shooting girlfriend

PONTIAC, Mich. – A 46-year-old man from Pontiac was charged with homicide on Saturday after confessing to shooting his girlfriend on Friday. Police said Roderick Junior Washington called authorities on Friday and said that he killed his girlfriend. An autopsy revealed the victim, a woman from Pontiac, died from a gunshot wound to the head, officials said. Police say Roderick confessed to shooting his girlfriend twice after a brief altercation in her vehicle. Police say Washington has prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance, malicious destruction of property over $1,000, receiving and concealing stolen property and breaking and entering.

Civil rights groups sue Oakland County Jail for immediate release of people during pandemic

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – On Friday, several civil rights and racial justice groups filed a federal lawsuit calling for the release of medically vulnerable people inside the Oakland County Jail, arguing that county officials are risking the lives of everyone inside and the community at large. Naming Oakland County, its Sheriff, Michael Bouchard, and Commander of Corrective Services Curtis D. Childs, the lawsuit filed by Advancement Project National Office, American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU), Civil Rights Corps (CRC), LaRene & Kriger P.L.C. and the Law Firm of Pitt, McGhee, Palmer and Rivers in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, argues that Oakland County officials are violating the constitutional rights of people in the jail by exposing them to an unnecessary risk of infection, illness or death during the coronavirus pandemic.

Inmate dies from suicide at Oakland County Jail

PONTIAC, Mich. – An inmate at the Oakland County Jail was found unresponsive by deputies after strangling himself in his cell on Saturday afternoon. Upon noticing the inmate was unresponsive, deputies entered the cell and discovered a blanket attached to the man’s feet and tied around his neck as a ligature, police said. Officials say the deputies conducted CPR and used an automated external defibrillator on the inmate and were able to obtain a pulse. The inmate was then transported to St. Joseph Mercy Oakland hospital where he was placed on life support and listed in critical condition, officials said. The case is being investigated by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit.

Pontiac man charged with retail fraud after incident at Carl’s Golfland

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – A 36-year-old Pontiac man has been charged with first-degree retail fraud and lodged in the Oakland County Jail. Officials said they watched Matthew Brenneman enter Carl’s Golfland in Bloomfield Hills on Friday. Bloomfield township officers stopped Brenneman after he left the store. He had also hidden a $429 putter up the sleeve of his jacket, according to officials. Brenneman was arraigned in the 48th District Court in front of Magistrate Andra Richardson.

Holly Township man arrested after making threats on Facebook

HOLLY, Mich. – Police arrested a 23-year-old Holly Township man after he allegedly posted a threatening message on Facebook on Wednesday at 10:13 p.m.Holly police believed the threat to be credible and investigated. The man is accused of posting the following: “Downtown Holly and every kid I went to high school with is aboutta (sic) meet their fate real quick startin (sic) with the fews.”Police said the man had become depressed after a recent breakup and his mood and demeanor had drastically changed. Holly police officers arrested the man at his Holly Township home on Friday afternoon and he is being lodged in the Oakland County jail. He has been charged with one count of malicious use of telecommunications services, a 6-month misdemeanor. His arraignment is scheduled for Saturday.

Commerce Township man arrested after chasing vehicle while armed with large knife

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Authorities said a man chased a vehicle, pounded on the vehicle, and tried to open its doors while armed with a large knife Monday in Commerce Township. Deputies were called at 7:53 p.m. to the 8000 block of Bywater Street after it was reported that a man was chasing a vehicle with a knife. When deputies arrived, they were told by a man that the man with the knife chased his vehicle before trying to open the door while yelling and waving the knife. Authorities said the man with a knife ran into his home after he couldn’t get the door open. Deputies arrested the armed man, a 35-year-old Commerce Township man.

Vote of confidence for Oakland County police chief after his arrest

LAKE ANGELUS, Mich. – Lake Angelus Police Chief Michael Farley received a vote of confidence from City Council at the body’s meeting Tuesday evening. Farley spent the night in the Oakland County Jail following the arrest. I have dedicated my entire career to enforcing the law,” Farley said in a statement. The city’s mayor released a statement at Tuesday’s meeting, giving Farley a vote of confidence. Before Farley joined the Lake Angelus force in January 2018, he worked with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the Farmington Hills Police Department and Lathrup Village.