By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — Police Chief Ronald Haddad announced multiple arrests from seven crimes during a press conference Dec. 20 at the Police Department.
Of the seven cases discussed, the biggest was a murder which occurred in October involving a Canton Township man. Police were dispatched to the area of Madison and Bennett for a crash where a vehicle collided into several parked vehicles. It was determined that the diver had been shot earlier, causing him to crash into the vehicles.
The victim was identified as Raymond Mshahwar, 33, of Canton who was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
After a two-month investigation, Dearborn police arrested Walbert Morales-Castro, 18, of Detroit and a 16-year-old juvenile female from Dearborn in connection with the homicide.
“It is possible the motive was robbery,” Haddad said. “The friendship with the parties involved started online before the incident.”
Morales-Castro was charged with homicide-felony murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery felony in possession of a firearm, felony firearm and habitual offender second notice.
Haddad said the 16-year-old will be charged as an adult on homicide-felony murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
Both are being held without bond.
Over several months residents have reported numerous items stolen from their vehicles which led to the arrest of Mohammad Hachem, 22, of Dearborn.
Detectives reviewed surveillance footage showing items being stolen from an unlocked vehicle. Information about the suspect obtained from the video was shared with patrol officers for assistance.
On Dec. 2, police responded to a house in the 5900 block of Appoline to follow up an attempted larceny from vehicle and stolen personal checks.
The victim told police the checks had been cashed and Hachem’s name was provided as the person who endorsed them. He was linked to 22 other cases in the area.
He was arraigned Dec. 9 for possession of stolen financial transaction device in 19th District Court.
In November, police arrested Taelor Coker, 23, who was charged with assault with intent to murder following a shooting at Post Bar.
At the scene, officers heard the gunshot fired and observed Coker with the semi-automatic pistol which she shot at a 25-year-old resident.
Coker, a West Bloomfield resident, turned herself in along with the weapon after police interviewed multiple people connecting her to the crime.
On Dec. 2, patrol officers arrested Christine Howard and Teon McClain in a Detroit hotel for armed robbery at a Dearborn business.
Police responded to the business on Michigan Avenue and Greenfield where police said McClain entered demanding money from the cash register as he showed his black pistol tucked in his waistband.
After he exited, police said Howard drove the pair from the scene in a silver 1996 Honda Accord. Through their investigation Dearborn detectives learned that the pair also were involved in a Dearborn Heights robbery just hours before.
Howard and McClain had previous criminal histories and warrants out for their arrest.
Next, Haddad spoke about the arrest of Detroit native Eric Smothers, 24, who shot a 26-year-old Inkster resident in the face on Michigan Avenue at Schaefer Road.
The incident occurred on Dec. 3 when officers responded to the scene and noticed the suspect had left his vehicle and fled.
Working with Detroit and Michigan state police, it was determined Smothers also was involved in murder and vehicle theft in Detroit just two hours prior.
He was arrested on Dec. 4 and charged with assault with intent to murder, carjacking armed robbery, receiving and concealing a motor vehicle, felonious assault and felony firearm.
Also in December, police arrested Frederick Tumminello and a 15-year-old juvenile for breaking and entering at a business on Greenfield Road at Warren Avenue.
The two, whom Haddad identified as uncle and nephew, set off an alarm after shattering the front glass door of the business, which was caught on security footage.
Police said both entered and stole multiple items and left the scene, but officers were able to identify Tumminello because they recognized him from previous encounters.
Tumminello, of Ann Arbor, was charged with breaking and entering, possession of burglary tools and habitual offender fourth offense.
Finally, Haddad asked for the help of the community to identify a 20- to 30-year-old Arab-American male with facial hair who fired shots near Hubbard and Southfield Freeway Oct. 29.
Haddad said the man pulled up on the red light in a dark colored vehicle and began shooting at a vehicle with a handgun and then fled.
Anyone with information on the case can call Dearborn police at 313-943-2006 or Crime Stoppers, which is offering a $1,000 reward for information, at 800-773-2587.
“Our men and women put their life at risk everyday,” Haddad said. “In every case, we go after people who threaten our safety and do an excellent job handling situations.”
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)