News Updates - Week of June 3 - 9, 2018
St. Clair Shores Man Charged in MGM Casino Case
On June 1, 2018 Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Daniel S. Michalak, 33(DOB:05/16/19850 of St. Clair Shores, in connection with the death of his girlfriend Tia Marie Vellucci, 27 of Davison, Michigan. On May 29, 2018 at approximately 12:49 p.m. at the MGM Grand Casino, hotel security along with Detroit police officers received information that led them to check hotel room 408. Upon entry, they found the lifeless body of Ms. Vellucci lying on the floor with multiple stab wounds and a bite wound to her nose. It is alleged that Michalak is responsible for the death of the victim.
The case remains under investigation awaiting the Wayne County Medical Examiner's report and other forensic testing. Michalak has been charged with, Assault with Intent to Murder, Assault with Intent to Maim, and Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm.* On June 1, 2018 Michalak was arraigned in 36th District Court and remanded to jail. Today at the Probable Cause Hearing, the defendant was referred to the Forensic Center for competency and criminal responsibility evaluations. The next court date is scheduled for September 6, 2018 before Judge William McConico.
Detroit Dad Faces New Charges in Infant's Homicide
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Thomas Smith, 38, (DOB: 03/26/1979), of Detroit, in connection with the homicide of his two-year-old infant daughter.
On February 11, 2018, Detroit Police officers responded to a 911 call to a residence in the 14000 block of Corbett Street in Detroit. The infant girl was found lying at the bottom of stairs by the defendant and 911 was called. .Medics responded to the location and the child was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. It is alleged that the defendant killed his infant daughter. On February 14, 2018, Smith was charged with Child Abuse Second Degree.
The Wayne County Medical Examiner's report in this case was recently received by WCPO, and the death of the infant was ruled to be a homicide, as a result of abusive head trauma and blunt force trauma to her chest. Smith's previous charge of Child Abuse Second Degree has been dismissed. Smith is now facing new charges of Felony Murder, Torture, Child Abuse First Degree, and Child Abuse Second Degree.* He was arraigned on June 5, 2018 on the new charges in 36th District Court and he is remanded to the Wayne County Jail. His Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for Friday, June 15, 2018.
Mark Bessner - Former MSP trooper charged in the fatal ATV crash that killed Damon Grimes. WCPO has just been informed that Judge Margaret Van Houten has adjourned the Final Conference in the case from June 8, 2018 until June 22, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. No reason for the adjournment was given by the court.
New York Man Charged in Stoepel Street Car Crash
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Ahmed Nagi, 26, (DOB: 07/14/1991) of Lackawanna, NY, in connection with a single motor vehicle accident that injured Nagi and his three male passengers, ages 26, 20 and 17.
On June 4, 2018, at approximately 1:40 p.m., in the area of Stoepel Street and West Chicago, Detroit Police patrol officers observed the defendant fail to stop at a crosswalk at Grand River Avenue. Officers followed the defendant and observed another traffic violation. The officers activated the overhead lights to conduct a traffic stop on westbound West Chicago. It is alleged that Nagi briefly stopped and fled the location at a high rate of speed. Officers terminated the pursuit when the vehicle speeds became too high. It is further alleged that Nagi continued to flee and crashed his vehicle into a building located in the 9500 block of Stoepel before it erupted in flames. 911 was called and the officers assisted in removing the defendant and the passengers from the vehicle. EMS transported them to a local hospital for treatment. It is further alleged that Nagi had a handgun in the vehicle.
Nagi has been charged with two counts of Fleeing & Eluding Second Degree, two counts of Driving While License Suspended Causing Serious Injury, two counts of Reckless Driving Causing Serious Injury, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, five counts of Felony Firearm and Driving While License Suspended, Revoked or Denied*.
Nagi is in a local hospital being treated for his injuries. He was arraigned this afternoon. The probable cause conference is scheduled for June 14, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.; the preliminary examination is scheduled for June 21, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. Both hearings are before Judge Kenneth King in 36th District Court. The defendant received a $15,000/10% bond.
Clinton Township Man Charged with Disturbing the Peace
Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Denis Marku, 36 (DOB: 09/01/1981) of Clinton Township, in connection with an alleged threat to a Meijer Store. On June 6, 2018 at 11:38 a.m., Marku was at a Meijer Store located in the 20400 block of Haggerty Road in Northville when he made a statement that was overheard by a store employee about people being blown up. The store employee promptly reported this to a Meijer's team member who called the Northville Township Police Department. The police arrived at the store, arrested Marku and evacuated the store as a safety precaution. No explosive devices were found in the store or in Marku's car.
After review of the facts and the law, it has been determined that there is insufficient evidence to charge the defendant with False Report or Threat of Terrorism or False Report or Threat of Bomb or Harmful Device. The defendant has been charged with Disturbing the Peace, a misdemeanor which carries maximum penalty of 90 days in jail.*
He has a pre-trial scheduled for June 15, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Michael Gerou in 35th District Court. The defendant received a $300.00 cash/surety bond. Please request a photograph of the defendant from the Northville Police Department.