The apprehension of a home invasion suspect is being credited in part to the 18-year-old son of a homeowner who almost became another victim.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department last week released more details concerning the May 15 arrest of a Waterford man who now faces a potential 35 years in prison for at least two break-ins in Independence Township.
Michael Lewis Wheeler, 46, was charged with two counts of home invasion in a video arraignment on Nov. 17 before 52-2 District Judge Michael Batchik. Bond was set at $5,000, and a pre-trial examination is scheduled Dec. 29 in Batchik’s courtroom.
One count, considered first-degree home invasion because the house on Snow Apple Drive was occupied, carries a potential 20-year felony sentence. The other count, second-degree home invasion, came from Wheeler’s alleged break-in of a Waldon Road home.
Reports said, the 18-year-old called 9-1-1 at about 10:38 a.m. on Nov. 15 to report the attempted break-in.
Detective Jerry DeRosia said the resident chased Wheeler away with a sword or large knife.
The resident also provided a good description of the suspect vehicle. About 10 minutes after the report another patrol unit found the vehicle parked at a Waldon Road residence. The deputy saw someone close the front door to the home, but the man refused to open the door.
Marked patrol units cleared the scene, hoping to make the suspect believe he was in the clear, reports said.
‘We didn’t know if he lived there, so we didn’t have probable cause to go in,? DeRosia said.
Two unmarked units stayed within sight of the residence, and observed the suspect leave the home. Deputies stopped the vehicle a short time later at Walton Boulevard and Perry Street in Pontiac.
Deputies later returned to the Waldon Road home. At that time, the resident had returned home and reported both a forced door and the theft of a PlayStation 2 game system with a rented DVD game inside.
Those items, along with a tire iron, were found inside Wheeler’s vehicle, DeRosia said, and Wheeler later confessed to the two incidents.
While charges so far are limited to the two specific Nov. 15 incidents, DeRosia said, ‘We’re investigating further into other ones? which could involve Wheeler.
Since August, deputies have taken reports of similar daytime home invasions, with similar pry marks on the doors of many of those homes.