Tale of Two Cities: Detroit woman kills attacker; Akron home invasion spree

April 14, 2004
Detroit Free Press

A woman shot an armed man to death Tuesday after he attacked her as she was entering her east-side Detroit home, police said.

The woman, who owns a car dealership, was at the side door of her home in the 15200 block of Troester at 7:45 p.m. when a man ran up behind her brandishing a nickel-plated handgun, Officer Derek Jones said.

"He said, 'I got you,"' Jones said.

She tried to shut her screen door, but he pulled it open and began shoving her into the house, police said. As they struggled, she pulled a handgun from her purse and fired about five shots, Jones said.

The man fell to the ground between the door and the driveway.

Jones said the man was 42 years old and had a criminal record for breaking and entering homes. Police declined to release his name pending notification of his relatives.

Jones said the woman had a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Meanwhile, in an area plagued by city and county officials seemingly bent on KEEPING citizens defenseless, a far different story is being told:

April 12, 2004
Akron Beacon Journal

Invasion spree frightens residents
Homes' phone lines cut in wee-hours robberies by knife-wielding man

He appears in the early hours of the morning, cutting or attempting to cut phone lines and alarm systems along the way.

He confronts residents, usually when they are sleeping, threatens them with a knife and demands money.

He only spends a few minutes in the homes -- just enough time to get what he wants.

Akron police are warning residents in the Firestone Park area to be on the alert after the knife-wielding robber hit two more homes over the weekend. There was one similar robbery last week and what police believe was one failed attempt.

Police have also beefed up patrols in the area and are handing out fliers in neighborhoods.

"Usually break-ins happen in the daytime when people aren't home because burglars don't want to confront anyone. They just want the money,'' said Akron police Lt. Sylvia Trundle. "But this is especially dangerous because people are home and they are being confronted.''

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

Last week, the intruder broke into a home in the 100 block of Leora Avenue through a back door.

The Sunday and Monday robberies appear to be the work of the same man.

Girard Street, Sunday

"It's scary to have your home invaded where you think you're most safe,'' said Lynne Clayton of Girard Street, who was confronted early Sunday morning. "It changes your life. You find yourself putting extra bolts on the doors and making sure your alarm is on before you leave your house. When you walk outside you're a little more leery of people.''

Michael Clayton awakened first. The man was standing over him with a large butcher knife. The man yelled, "Give me the money, give me the money.''

Clayton handed over whatever money he had in the bedroom. The man asked if anyone else was in the house, then went to another bedroom, where Clayton's wife was sleeping.

"It was shocking to see someone standing there with a flashlight in your face asking for money,'' said the 58-year-old woman.

"He was real polite, he kept saying he didn't want to hurt anyone and kept addressing me as ma'am. He asked me to get my purse and asked for money. I grabbed my purse and gave him the money. He didn't bother to take my purse and he didn't ask me for any jewelry.''

She said the man also didn't touch her husband's watch, which was on the night stand.

Police said the man broke into the home through a basement window, which was no more than 15 inches wide.

"He must be really thin. I only weigh 120 pounds and I don't think I'd be able to get through it,'' Lynne Clayton said. "It was hard to tell how much he weighed because he was wearing really baggy clothing. A sweat suit with a hoodie.'' She said his face was also hidden by a mask from the nose down.

He took the cell phones and told them he would leave them in the devil strip across the street. The couple had a third cell phone in the home and used that one to call police.

Grant Street, Monday

About 5 a.m. Monday, a man entered the home of a couple in the 1300 block of Grant Street.

Police say the man entered the home through a basement window also. He had a large butcher knife and also awakened the couple while they were sleeping.

He demanded money and jewelry from the couple, ages 40 and 42. Phone lines were cut but the couple had a cell phone in the bedroom and called police.

The man got away with $13 cash and two credit cards.

Police were also investigating an attempted break-in in the same block on Grant Street.

It wasn't until the resident tried to use the telephone -- and called the phone company for service -- that he learned his phone line had been cut. Police also found a basement window had been tampered with, but entry was unsuccessful.

Last week's break-in

In last week's incident the owner heard a noise, went downstairs to investigate and was surprised by a man with a knife. The woman screamed to her husband to call police. Both struggled with the man and received cuts to their wrists.

"In that first incident the resident said she smelled alcohol on the robber's breath,'' Trundle said. "If drugs and alcohol are involved, we don't know how a person might react with a knife.''

Trundle has posted fliers in the neighborhoods and at area businesses. The robber is described in the flier as a black male, about 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall, 180 to 200 pounds with a medium complexion. The robber wears a dark mask, dark blue hooded sweat shirt and jeans.

Councilwoman Mary Ellen McAvoy, D-7, who represents the Firestone Park area, said she just learned of the break-ins and will meet with senior citizens today at the Firestone Park Community Center to inform them of the incidents.

"Things like this will cause more people to get a dog and buy a gun,'' said Lynne Clayton. "If he doesn't want to hurt anybody he should knock on the front door and ask for money.''

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