Royal Oak Police Arrest Teenage Robbery Suspect

A Royal Oak teen was charged with unarmed robbery over the weekend for stealing a pedestrian's wallet near Crooks and Oliver roads, police said.

Keith Howard, 18, faces one count of unarmed robbery and one count of resisting arrest following his arrest June 23. 

Royal Oak Police received a call from a resident reporting a suspicious man on Oliver Road was following him on foot at 12:52 a.m. Sunday, reports said. 

A 911 operator was able to keep the caller on the line and dispatched officers to his location. The connection was lost when the suspect confronted the walker.

Police found the man unharmed in the 2900 block of Oliver. He stated his wallet was taken and told police the suspect fled northbound toward 13 Mile Road, according to the report.

Police said a Royal Oak officer observed the suspect walking northbound on Crooks at Thirteen Mile Road. When he was approached, he fled on foot and police lost sight of him in the area of 13 Mile and Devon roads.

He was later tracked down with the help of the Madison Heights Police K-9 unit hiding in an apartment complex near Crooks and Chester roads and arrested.

The wallet and its contents were recovered from a dumpster behind the Starr Presbyterian Church, located at 1717 W. 13 Mile Road, according to police.       

Howard was arraigned Monday before Judge Terrence Brennan of the 44th District Court. Bond was set at $100,000. A preliminary exam is set for 9 a.m. June 28.