A suspect has been arrested following a tense armed robbery at a Grosse Pointe Farms grocery store that led to widespread school lockdowns last week. Authorities captured the individual on Sunday morning at a vacant home in Detroit, days after the incident at the Village Food Market, as reported by WWJ. The Eastern Wayne County Special Response Team, alongside Grosse Pointe Farms officers, were involved in the takedown. Details on the case remain scant as the investigation continues.
The arrest followed an urgent search to locate an individual who had, during the grocery store confrontation, displayed a weapon to an employee. It began on Thursday morning around 7:40 a.m. when the perpetrator, "in an Amazon vest," was confronted about retail theft at the store. This led to an immediate lockdown at Brownell Middle School, which is less than a mile from the scene, according to information obtained by The Detroit News. Fearing the suspect was still nearby, other schools were also placed into a soft lockdown, where typical activities continued under elevated security measures.
Law enforcement had previously deployed on foot and with drones to track the suspect without success. Eventually, news came through that the individual was apprehended. The incident had a significant impact on local routines, with several schools, including Kerby Elementary, Maire Elementary, Richard Elementary, and South High School, enforcing restricted access as a precaution, as revealed by hoodline. Grosse Pointe Public Schools Superintendent Andrea Tuttle notified parents later that day, stating, "Local authorities have indicated that there is no longer a threat to students and staff."
The community response reflected the times, with individuals being to stay clear of the ongoing police operations. Residents were continually updated and advised to remain vigilant as the situation unfolded. Local police also issued a call for assistance, urging anyone with information to share it—an appeal that typifies the necessary co-operation between law enforcement and public in moments of crisis. With the suspect in custody, the schools have since resumed normal operations, but the lingering sense of disturbance is palpable in Grosse Pointe Farms.
