Dowagiac Department of Public Safety Director Tom Atkinson reports his department has arrested two men on several counts in connection with reported larcenies from vehicles and home invasions that occurred within the city earlier this month.

Deputies from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and officers of the Dowagiac Police Department responded to a home invasion Sept. 14 on Warren Drive in Pokagon Township.

Responding officers located two suspects who were arrested for several home invasions that occurred outside of the city in Cass County.

Through that investigation, Dowagiac police learned that some stolen property may be at a residence at  403 Chestnut St., Dowagiac.

Officers reported searching the residence and locating a large amount of stolen property.
Officers were able to connect the stolen property located at the residence to 12 separate larcenies from motor vehicles and one home invasion that occurred within the City of Dowagiac from Aug. 1 through Sept. 14, 2009.

This investigation was presented to the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office, which issued warrants for Joshua Jaylin Williams 21, and Matthew Alan Spicher 18, both of Chestnut Street, Dowagiac, according to city police.

Prosecutor Victor Fitz’s office also lists a 104 Bennet Ave. address in Hartford for Spicher.
Both Williams and Spicher remain lodged at the Cass County Jail in Cassopolis on the original home invasion charges from Sept. 14.

Fitz said each defendant has been charged with the following:

• Nine counts of home invasion in the first degree (20-year felony).

• Conspiracy count of home invasion in the first degree (20-year felony).

• Home invasion in the second degree (15-year felony).

• Conspiracy to commit home invasion in the second degree (15-year felony).

• Receiving and concealing stolen property $1,000-$20,000 (five-year felony).

• Four counts larceny from a motor vehicle (five-year felony).

• Four counts of conspiracy to commit larceny from a motor vehicle  (five- year felony).

Williams and Spicher were arraigned Sept. 14 for the home invasion charges, each receiving a bond of $50,000 cash/surety and on Sept. 22, for the larceny from a motor vehicle, conspiracies and receiving and concealing stolen property $1,000-$20,000 before District Judge Stacey Rentfrow and again received bonds of $50,000 cash/surety.

To date, Williams and Spicher have not posted bond.

Fitz said Williams and Spicher are scheduled for preliminary examination of the evidence in District Court this Friday, Sept. 25.

Dowagiac police continue to investigate this incident with assistance from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team.