HOLJaW GIFT GUIDE- / irfiJ- '<•' •**•»•••- - \i , *** 75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com guilty plea in BY DARRELLCLEM crash at Merriman and Warren that ing and eluding; failing to stop at an tion to his case considering that he Westland police have said. He sus­ OBSERVER STAFF WRITER killed 35-year-old Ndalima Yussuf accident involving injury or death; had only been ordered to stand trial tained severe head injuries and died Nzaro. and operating without a driver's on Nov. 3. two days later at the University of A Redford Township teenager has Foster, designated as an adult, license. The teenager was accused of los­ Michigan Hospital, where he had been pleaded guilty to second-degree mur­ could face a broad range of sentenc­ "I'm OK with the plea," Westland ing control ofa silver Mercedes while airlifted from Garden City Hospital. der amid allegations he lost control of ing options when he is sentenced for Police Chief James Ridener said. "It fleeing east on Warren and strik­ Miller has said that Foster could be a Mercedes Benz, slammed into two a crime that carries penalties ranging can't get much better than that for ing a Honda Accord and a Ford van sentenced as a juvenile or potentially vehicles and killed a Walled Lake man up to life in prison. this type of crime." that had stopped for a traffic light receive a "blended sentence" that while fleeing from Westland police at Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Ron Kroll, who is in charge of the on southbound Merriman. Warren could eventually lead to his transfer to speeds topping 100 mph, authorities Maria Miller confirmed that Foster's Westland Police Department's traffic curves as it approaches Merriman, an adult prison. said Tuesday. plea to second-degree murder resulted bureau, described himself as "pleased" and authorities have indicated Foster Police have said the teenager was Ramon Foster, 15, faces sentenc­ in authorities dropping charges of and said that "with the circumstances was driving well over 100 mph. driving a vehicle that he didn't have ing Jan. 9 by Wayne County Probate operating a vehicle while under the being what they were, it's a just (out­ Nzaro, employed as a custodian, permission to drive. Judge Frank Szymanski after he influence ofa controlled substance • come)." was on his way to work in his Honda pleaded guilty Friday to an Oct. 14 and causing a death; first-degree flee­ Foster's plea brought a swift resolu­ Accord when the accident happened, dclemihometownlife.com I (734) 953-2110 Krazy Kopz help charities raise funds BY DARRELL CLEM money for four consecutive evenings, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER Thursday through Sunday. The non­ ««** profit pays a $50-a-day license fee. In Three Westland police officers have turn, it earns half of the gross profits, found a way to help local charities raise Kavanaugh said, and Krazy Kopz takes money while earning extra cash for the rest to pay off their costs and pock­ themselves while they're off duty. et whatever is left. Call them crazy. They'll take it as a Krazy Kopz already has had an event compliment. with the Westland Police Officers Known as Krazy Kopz, Westland Association, Kavanaugh said, and the officers and brothers Matt and Joe business partners have lined up numer­ Bobby, fellow cop Jeff Kavanaugh and ous other charities. business partner Rick Brown have "This is just one way for us to give started a state-licensed business on back to the community" and still make the side to provide popular poker game a profit, Kavanaugh said. "We have Texas Hold lem and Blackjack events just about every Westland charity on for charities seeking a way to raise board with us. We're keeping Westland money. money in Westland." "They can raise several thousand dol­ The city's top brass, led by Police lars with minimal effort," Kavanaugh Chief James Ridener, gave approval to said. Krazy Kopz after researching it and It works like this: Nonprofit groups considering the charitable benefits. pull a state license for the gambling "That's why we allowed it," Ridener event, then arrange for Krazy Kopz to said. "We looked at a conflict of inter­ run the games in a poker room at Town est. We don't believe there is any, 'n' Country Lanes, a longtime bowling because it's licensed through the state PHOTOS BY TOM HAWLEY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER alley on Wayne Road between Cherry and it's for charitable purposes. And Hill and Palmer. it's done off-duty." Wayne County Sheriff Officer Ray Johnson steals the purse from fellow officer Kenya Davis as she talks on a cell phone while walking "Pretty much all the charity has to do Kavanaugh said anyone who wants to a car in the parking lot of Westland Shopping Center during a shopping safety demonstration. is show up with two people and sell the more information may call (734) 787- poker chips," Kavanaugh said. "We do 5758 or go online to wwwkrazykopz- everything else. The charities don't even rentals.com. have to know anything about poker." stole my purse' Typically, one charity raises [email protected] I (734) 953-2110 Demonstrations show ways to stay safe shopping Alert citizen foils break-in at church BY SUE MASON OBSERVER STAFF WRITER BY DARRELL CLEM would have been unlikely we would have OBSERVER STAFF WRITER caught them." "Hey, someone stop that guy, On Monday, Westland 18th District he just stole my purse," shouted An alert witness called Westland Judge C. Charles Bokos arraigned three Kenya Davis as Ray Johnson police and helped officers nab three sus­ defendants, entered not-guilty pleas ran through the parking lot of pects during a break-in that happened for them and scheduled a Dec. 4 pre­ Westland Shopping Center with shortly after 3 a.m. Friday at a church liminary hearing to determine whether * her purse in his hand. on the southeast corner of Warren and they should stand trial in Wayne County Cameras were rolling to catch Venoy, police Lt. Dan Karrick said. Circuit Court. the crime, but it wasn't the nei­ The citizen's quick action helped Authorities identified the defendants ther first time Davis hollered Officers Jason Brassfleld, Robert as Aaron Ray Hanson, 22, of Westland, that nor a fleet-footed escape Kenyon and Ronald Buckley catch his 21-year-old brother, Justin for Johnson. Wayne County three men accused of breaking into Our Merlyn Hanson, also of Westland, Sheriffs officers, the duo were Savior Church. and Jonathan Edward Morris, 20, of re-enacted purse snatchings Police captured one suspect near the Canton. several times to show how to church, another in an apartment com­ All three men are charged with thwart the crime during the plex a short distance away, and a third breaking and entering and possession holiday season. who had gotten into a getaway car near of burglar tools. Justin Hanson and It was a lesson Maureen the scene, Karrick said; Morris also are charged as habitual Brown took to heart. Looking The incident was foiled before the offenders. at her purse, dangling from suspects could take anything from the Bokos ordered Aaron Hanson jailed her shoulder, she had to admit, church, the lieutenant said. with a $100,000 cash bond, while the "This is bad." "The citizen that called allowed us to other two defendants faced a stiffer, Brown and her husband get there quickly and catch these guys $250,000 cash bond. Peter and Maureen Brown of Plymouth were among people who watched the demonstration in before they had a chance to steal any­ Please see SAFETY, A2 hopes of picking up a 'little something' to keep safe during the holiday shopping season. thing," Karrick said. "Without his call, it [email protected] I (734)953-2110 5 The Observer & Eccentric INDEX For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS C2 Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE C6 Volume 44 CLASSIFIED C2-C8 (866) 887-2737 Number 53 CROSSWORD PUZZLE C2 FILTER Dl JOBS C5 OBITUARIES B6 OPINION A6 PINK D10 REAL ESTATE C2 Coming Sunday: SERVICE GUIDE C3 Find the perfect holiday gift 8 53174 1000? S SPORTS B1 Observer S Eccentric | Thursday, November 27,2008 A2 (W) LOCAL NEWS www.hometownlife.com packages in the car. department will have a pres­ SAFETY He also waited until she had ence at the mall Friday with 'Someone turned our FROM PAGE A1 placed the bags in the backseat the official start of the holiday and was well on her way back shopping season. to the store, when he broke the "We'll have stepped-up Peter had come to the shopping window with a hammer to gain enforcement at the mall center to watch the demonstra­ access. through Christmas Eve," he lives upside down...' tion put on for members of the According to Evans, the dif­ said. 'We'll have patrols inside media in advance of the start of ferent scenarios showed what and outside." the holiday shopping season. shoppers need to do to stay The mall has its own secu­ 30 years later, family seek clues to brother's murder "Boy, if I can pick up one safe. In the case of the cell rity detail, but works with little tip... any little thing can phone, he said to make the Westland Police with added help," said the Plymouth resi­ call in the mall "and get it out patrols. BY LEANNE ROGERS TOM HAWLEY | STAFF dent. of the way." He also advised "We have a great working OBSERVER STAFF WRITER PHOTOGRAPHER "This is the worst economy woman to place their purses relationship with the Westland ever and when the economy is across their body or "better yet Police, this is something they As the anniversary of Tom Sisters Kathy poor, you're going to have more across their bodies and under a do around a busy time of the Freno's death approaches, his 'J^ Minch (left) and people looking for an oppor­ jacket." year," said Denise Mills, the sisters still hold out hope that * - ^" Judy Larry hold tunity to steal," said Wayne He also told shoppers to park mall's marketing director.