By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS -- The law enforcement officers from two states and three counties have joined to catch and prosecute those criminals who have preyed on Greater Niles area residents in a string of armed home invasions.
Now they ask for everyone's help.
Though the photos passed out at Tuesday's press conference in the Cass County Courthouse aren't a deck of cards of most wanted in Michiana, three of the faces are those who now have warrants issued for their arrest.
Fitz stressed that "the victims are respected members of society. We are motivated to protect the elderly and are aggressively working to that end."
Warrants have been issued for Anthony I. Wilson, born 2/03/1977; Dejuan Tony Lowe, born 7/26/1977 and Michael C. Dameron, born 2/3/1981. Addresses were not given for the three. Officials warned there may be more suspects involved.
Residents are encouraged to call if they see anything suspicious, said Frank Canarecci, St. Joseph County Sheriff. "The only foolish call is the call not made."
Continued interviews actually helped the police crack the case, Fitz added. "People who didn't think they had information. "
On last Friday evening the first suspect was arrested in Indiana, Jonathan Ray Haynes, 28, of South Bend, Ind. He was arraigned Monday afternoon by Judge Paul E. Deats in Cass County Fourth District Court and faces eight felony counts.
Haynes was arrested at approximately 12:30 p.m on July 18 by officers of the South Bend Police Department. He was charged in the June 28 home invasion on Bell Road in Niles. Cash, along with car and house keys were taken in the robbery.
On the same date, a home invasion on Redfield Road, two suspects, believed to be Haynes and Lowe, were both armed, one with a small-framed semi-auto pistol and the other, with an orange/red pipe. Taken were cash and a six shot 22-caliber pistol.
Other invasions in the Niles area for which Haynes and Lowe are suspects include on July 5 one on Oak St. and another on Center Avenue in the Barron Lake area of Niles.
Additional incidents on Batchelor Drive in Niles occurred on May 14, though entry was never gained and also an unsuccessful attempt on Maple Lane in Niles on May 20. Items were taken in the home invasions on April 25 on Sioux Trail in Berrien County and May 14 on N. 17th Street in Niles.
Of the additional three suspects, the warrant for Wilson for the felony of burglary is for the breaking and entering of the residence of Daniel and Mary Kocsis in the 500 block of North Grandview in South Bend, ind.
Dameron is accused of three counts of burglary and attempted burglary to the residence of Donald and Caryol Zutter on the 2000 block of Eisenhower Road; the Leah and Paul Frenkiel residence in the 100 block of N. Greenlawn and that of Fred and Margaret Root of the 50000 block of Quince Road, all in South Bend, ind.
Lowe has warrants for seven counts and is implicated in the burglary to the couples on Grandview, Greenlawn, Quince, and Eisenhower, and also the residences of Isabelle Hazinki of the 21000 block of Belkay Drive and Jim and Linda Corder of the 50000 block Lilac Road, both in South Bend.
The similar incidents involved two suspects breaking into a residence, duct-taping the elderly victims, threatening them with a handgun and then taking an unspecified amount of cash.
Haynes was arrested without incident near his home by Jefferson and Illinois streets. He remains in the Cass County Jail. His preliminary hearing will be next Monday.
Additional arrests are expected as investigation into the string of home invasions by Michiana law enforcement continues.