Tactical unit searches Niles home, shooting suspect not found
Published 5:22 pm Thursday, April 30, 2015
Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT
Members of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department’s Tactical Response Unit stand, some with guns pointed, at a home in the 300 block of N. 9th St. in Niles. The unit was serving a search warrant at the residence after receiving a tip that a shooting suspect was inside.
Acting on a tip that the suspect in a recent shooting was in a Niles home, the Berrien County Tactical Response Unit (TRU) surrounded a residence in the 300 block of North 9th Street Thursday afternoon.
Sheriff L. Paul Bailey said his department received word from an informant that Michael Jerome Exom III, of Niles, was at 310 N. 9th Street.
Exom is wanted on a charge of attempted murder for allegedly shooting his 24-year-old girlfriend at Aaron’s Mini Storage in Niles Township March 22.
The TRU team parked a heavily armored vehicle in front of the home shortly before 3 p.m. A large battering ram attached to the front of the vehicle was placed against the front door.
Several TRU members armed with large weapons were either crouched or standing around the vehicle as a voice coming from a loud speaker on the vehicle asked Exom to exit the home.
Eventually, TRU members entered the home through a side door. They soon exited the home finding no sign of Exom.
Bailey said they received a search warrant for the home and that Exom is known to spend a lot of time in Niles where many of his friends and family are located.
“They have to know that he needs to turn himself in or this is what can happen,” he said. “As long as we have probable cause and a judge signs a search warrant, you may have a tactical team at your house. We are not going to stop until we find him.”
During the investigation, a 37-year-old female was arrested and lodged on criminal charges of accessory after the fact and possession of marijuana. Her name is not being released, pending arraignment in Berrien County Trial Court.
Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to Exom’s arrest.
He is a 28-year-old African American male. He is 5-foot-10, approximately 210 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.
Those with information can submit an anonymous tip online at www.michianacrimestoppers.com, or through a link on the Crime Stoppers’ Facebook page. Those with smart phones can submit a tip through the same secure link using their devices. Look for the free Tip Submit Mobile app. Anyone can still call Crime Stoppers toll free at (800) 342-STOP. Callers will be given a code number and won’t be asked for their name.
