Belleville, MI - 3 Men Charged with Stealing a Crown Victoria - Stolen Police Computers
3 men charged with stealing computers, car
BY DARRELL CLEM
STAFF WRITER
Three young Belleville men were charged Monday with stealing a city-owned car
from the Westland Public Services Department, crashing it through a gate and
fleeing with computers they stole from two police vehicles.
Michael Gary Dunstan, 19, Rickey Edward Hilton, 18, and Scott David Matthews,
23, face an Aug. 3 court hearing on two counts of breaking into police cars and
one count of stealing a 1994 Crown Victoria driven by a department official.
Dunstan has an additional charge of malicious destruction of police property.
The three men were arraigned Monday for an incident that a city employee
discovered when he showed up for work Wednesday morning of last week at the
public services department on Marquette east of Newburgh, where city vehicles
are repaired.
Hilton had been working for the city, although he was contracted by an outside
firm, police Sgt. Steve Borisch confirmed.
Although authorities couldn't divulge all details of their investigation,
officials said the case against the three men unfolded after Dunstan tried
Friday evening to sell the stolen vehicle in a Pittsfield Township parking lot.
"This was nice police work," Westland police Lt. James Ridener said.
According to Borisch, Matthews drove Dunstan and Hilton to the public services
yard, where the trio planned to steal computer equipment out of police cars.
While there, Dunstan is accused of driving off in the Crown Victoria, Borisch
said.
The two computers, alone, cost $6,000 each, according to police reports. The men
are accused of buying tools from a Wal-Mart to carry out the plot, Borisch said.
In court Monday, Judge C. Charles Bokos ordered Dunstan and Matthews jailed in
lieu of a $100,00 0/10 percent bond, meaning they would have to post $10,000
each for their release. Hilton was jailed on a $50,00 0/10 percent bond.
Dunstan and Matthews received a higher bond -- and could potentially receive
more prison time, if convicted -- because they have a criminal history, Borisch
said.
The trio is expected to learn during their Aug. 3 court hearing whether they
will face trial in Wayne County Circuit Court.
If convicted, Dunstan and Matthews could face 10 years in prison, while Hilton
could face a five-year term, Borisch said.