One of the suspects charged in a January robbery in Green Oak Township in which shots were fired has entered a plea.
25-year-old Laronda Chase was one of five women arrested following the January 12th incident in which Green Oak Township Police say several suspects entered the Ulta Beauty store at the Village Place Mall and began filling a bag with merchandise.
As officers arrived, including Michigan State Police (MSP) from the Brighton Post, at least one suspect fled with the merchandise on foot and was pursued, while the remainder tried to flee in separate vehicles.
MSP says one trooper was attempting to take the suspect that ran into custody, when a vehicle involved drove directly at the trooper.
“The trooper fired his weapon at the vehicle,” stated a release. “Vehicle was struck but not the suspect driver. Vehicle fled the scene but was stopped after colliding with a building. All suspects taken into custody. No injuries to anyone involved.”
The trooper involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave, but returned to duty Feb. 3 after being cleared by the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office.
Court records show that four of the suspects; Shanel Webster, 29; Tirezah Scott, 50; Kari Williams, 27, and Joya Williams, 36, are set for a final settlement conference on July 28th in Livingston County Circuit Court.
However, Chase will be sentenced the day before that, July 27th, after she pleaded guilty as charged last month to all six charges against her, including felony counts of Organized Retail Crime and Retail Fraud. Records show Chase entered the plea under what’s known as a Cobb’s Agreement in which the judge indicates how he plans to sentence the defendant, but allows Chase to withdraw her plea at sentencing if she is not satisfied with the outcome.
While all of the defendants face felony counts of Organized Retail Crime and Retail Fraud, several others are also charged with more serious counts of Assaulting a Police Officer and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
Webster, who is accused of ramming a police vehicle, faces the most serious charges, including two counts of Assaulting a Police Officer, one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, two counts of Third Degree Fleeing a Police Officer and two counts of Malicious Destruction of Police Property. She remains held on $500,000 bond.
Scott, 50, is charged with one count each of organized retail crime, first-degree retail fraud, concealing stolen property less than $20,000, fleeing a police officer, assaulting a police officer and removal of an anti-theft device. She remains held on a $250,000 bond.
