Warren Police arrest 4 in robbery spree

Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News

Warren -- Four Detroiters were arraigned today on allegations they're behind two armed robberies in the city early this morning.

Warren Police said Austin Smith, 17; Darius Lawrence, 20; and brothers Tony Jackson, 19, and Daniel Jackson, 18, face two counts of armed robbery and two counts of felony firearm stemming from robberies involving two Warren residents.

Warren Police Lt. Mike Torey said a 27-year-old Warren man exiting his car around 12:45 a.m. at the Georgetown Apartments near11 Mile and Hoover was the first victim. One of the suspects approached the man on foot, placed a gun to the back of his head and demanded his cell phone and keys, Torey said.

The man complied and the suspects fled northbound on Hoover in a black four-door Ford vehicle.

Within five minutes, Torey said there was another report of a robbery near 12 Mile and Newport, between Schoenherr and Hoover. Police said a 38-year-old Warren man riding his bicycle home from work was also approached by suspects in a dark colored Ford and threatened at gun-point by a male suspect matching the same description as the man in the first hold-up. The suspect took the victim's backpack and the group of thieves sped away from the scene.

Police say the victim was able to obtain the vehicle's license plate, and the suspects were stopped shortly after 1 a.m. by St. Clair Shores Police.

Authorities recovered the handgun and the stolen belongings in the vehicle -- including credit cards stolen around 11 p.m. Wednesday during an unrelated robbery in Hazel Park.

Torey said the suspects will likely face charges in Hazel Park in connection with the other offense.

All four are being held on a $100,000 cash surety bond.

A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 17.

cferretti@detnews.com (586) 468-0343