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Monday, April 7, 2014

Morang Street Beating Case - We have warrant requests for a juvenile male and a 17-year-old male that are currently being reviewed. No charging decision has been made at this time. You will be updated on the status of the cases when a decision has been made.

Westland Veteran Beating Case - We have received a warrant that is currently being reviewed. No charging decision has been made at this time.

17-Year-Old Detroit Man Charged in Morang Street Beating

Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Bruce Edward Wimbush, Jr., 17 (5/20/96), of Detroit in connection with the beating of Steven Utash, 54, of Roseville, Michigan. On April 2, 2014 at approximately 4:05 p.m., Mr. Utash was driving his truck on Morang and Balfour when he struck a 10-year-old boy who suddenly ran into the street. Mr. Utash immediately stopped and got out of his truck. When he attempted to check on the condition of the child, Wimbush, a juvenile male, and unknown others, are alleged to have severely beaten Mr. Utash with their fists and feet. Police and emergency medical personnel were called to the scene. The child was taken to a local hospital and treated for a leg injury. Mr. Utash was also taken to a local hospital and is currently being treated for injuries sustained in the beating.

Wimbush is being charged with Assault with Intent to Murder and Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm. He is expected to be arraigned at 2:30 p.m. today in 36th District Court.

"The facts of this case are unbelievably tragic. We have charged this defendant with a capital offense. I will not comment further because this investigation is continuing and widening. If anyone has information that is relevant to the case, I urge them to call the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-2260," said Prosecutor Worthy.

The juvenile respondent has not been charged and is currently being held in the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center. By law, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office is able to take five days to determine whether the respondent will be charged as an adult. He is expected to be in court this afternoon before Referee Anthony Crutchfield at 1:30 at the Juvenile Detention Center. The respondent will return to court on Saturday, April 12th at 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Warrant Denied in Westland Beating Case Today

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy determined that no charges would issue against three men arrested in connection with an altercation with a military veteran that occurred on March 2, 2014, at 1:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Venoy in the City of Westland. After a review of the facts and evidence it has been determined that the complaining witness in the case was the initial aggressor and was consistently the aggressor throughout the incident. The three men will not be charged with a crime.

Statement of Prosecutor Worthy

"The alleged facts in this case that are credible and supported by evidence in no way support a charge of any kind in this case. The complaining witness is a military veteran who was the initial aggressor in a fight with three men. The complainant was the largest man and he began the fight by striking the smallest of the three men. After being hit, the smallest man fled the scene. A fight continued with the complainant and the other two men. This is where this whole scenario should have ended, since the two men fled the scene. The complainant then continued to pursue them for over a half mile on foot while the two men tried to hide from him. When the complainant found the men, he started the fight all over again. During the altercation the complainant sustained some injuries consistent with a fist fight, but was treated at a hospital and was released. Since the veteran was the initial and only aggressor, the actions of the other three men are not a crime and we are declining to issue any charges.

"You cannot, in this state, start a fight, and when others disengage, track the people down to continue the fight and then claim that you were the victim," said Prosecutor Worthy.

Update on Morang Street Beating

Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Bruce Edward Wimbush, Jr., 17 (5/20/96), Wonzey Saffold, 30 ( 11/24/83), James Deontae Davis, 24, (1/24/90) all of Detroit in connection with the beating of Steven Utash, 54, of Roseville, Michigan. On April 2, 2014 at approximately 4:05 p.m., Mr. Utash was driving his truck on Morang and Balfour when he was struck a 10-year-old boy who suddenly ran into the street. Mr. Utash immediately stopped and got out of his truck. When he attempted to check on the condition of the child, Wimbush, Saffold, Davis, a 16-year-old juvenile male, and unknown others are alleged to have severely beaten Mr. Utash with their fists and feet. Police and emergency medical personnel were called to the scene. The child was taken to a local hospital and treated for a leg injury. Mr. Utash was also taken to a local hospital and is currently being treated for injuries sustained in the beating.

Wimbush, Saffold, and Davis have all been charged with Assault with Intent to Murder and Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm. Wimbush was arraigned this morning and received a $500,000 cash/surely bond. His preliminary examination will be held before Judge Joseph Baltimore on April 21, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. Saffold and Davis were arraigned and received a $500,000 cash/surety bond. Their preliminary examinations are scheduled for April 21, 2014 before Judge Alicia Jones-Coleman.

"The Detroit Police Department is making excellent progress with this case. I will not comment further because this investigation is continuing and widening. If anyone has information that is relevant to the case I urge them to call the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-2260,"said Prosecutor Worthy.

The 16-year-old juvenile respondent has not been charged and remains in the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center. By law the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office is able to take 5 days to determine whether the respondent will be charged as an adult. He is expected to be in court this afternoon before Referee Anthony Crutchfield at 1:30 at the Juvenile Detention Center. The respondent will return to court on Saturday, April 12th at 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Dearborn Heights Man Charged with Domestic Assault

Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Toddy Ray Poupard, 41 of Dearborn Heights with Domestic Violence Second Degree today. On April 9, 2014, at 3:31 a.m. the Taylor Police were dispatched to a hotel located in the 6700 block of Telegraph in Taylor on a report of a missing child. Sometime between 3:00 a.m. and 3:29 a.m. it is alleged that Poupard assaulted his 36-year-old wife while they were at the hotel. He was arrested at the scene and his wife was not taken into custody. He is expected to be arraigned this morning in 23rd District Court in Taylor between 10 and 10:30 a.m.

The child neglect matter remains under investigation by the Taylor Police Department.

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16-Year-Old Juvenile Charged in Morang Street Beating

Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged a 16-year-old as a juvenile with Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm and Ethnic Intimidation in connection with the beating of Steven Utash, 54, of Roseville, Michigan. On April 2, 2014 at approximately 4:05 p.m., Mr. Utash was driving his truck on Morang and Balfour when he was struck a boy who suddenly ran into the street. Mr. Utash immediately stopped and got out of his truck. When he attempted to check on the condition of the child, Bruce Wimbush, Wonzey Saffold, James Deontae Davis, the 16-year-old juvenile male, and unknown others are alleged to have severely beaten Mr. Utash with their fists and feet. Police and emergency medical personnel were called to the scene. The child was taken to a local hospital and treated for a leg injury. Mr. Utash was also taken to a local hospital and is currently being treated for injuries sustained in the beating.

The 16-year-old juvenile respondent is in custody and will appear in court at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center and will appear in court on Saturday, April 12th at 9:00 a.m. This hearing will be open to the press.

Wimbush, Saffold, and Davis were each charged with Assault with Intent to Murder and Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm. Wimbush was arraigned earlier this week and received a $500,000 cash/surely bond. His preliminary examination will be held before Judge Joseph Baltimore on April 21, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. Saffold and Davis were arraigned earlier this week and received $500,000 cash/surely bonds and will have their preliminary examinations on April 21, 2014 before Judge Jones-Coleman.

19-Year-Old Man Charged in Morang Street Beating

Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Latrez Cummings, 19 (2/8/95) with Assault with Intent to Murder and Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm in connection with the beating of Steven Utash, 54, of Roseville, Michigan. On April 2, 2014 at approximately 4:05 p.m., Mr. Utash was driving his truck on Morang and Balfour when he was struck a boy who suddenly ran into the street. Mr. Utash immediately stopped and got out of his truck. When he attempted to check on the condition of the child, Cummings, Bruce Wimbush, Wonzey Saffold, James Deontae Davis, a 16-year-old juvenile male, and unknown others are alleged to have severely beaten Mr. Utash with their fists and feet. Police and emergency medical personnel were called to the scene. The child was taken to a local hospital and treated for a leg injury. Mr. Utash was also taken to a local hospital and is currently being treated for injuries sustained in the beating.

We have been informed that Cummings will be arraigned in 36th District Court tomorrow morning, April 11, 2014.

"As in all cases with multiple defendants we must evaluate each person's actions individually to assess their alleged criminal conduct. In the case of the 16-year-old charged as a juvenile, we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt, the crimes of Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm and Ethnic Intimidation. In the case of the four adult defendants that have been charged, the facts and the evidence does not support a charge of Ethnic Intimidation. We know there were numerous people involved in this case and the police are continuing to investigate, so I will not comment any further about the case," said Prosecutor Worthy.

The 16-year-old juvenile respondent is in custody and will appear in court at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center and will appear in court on Saturday, April 12th at 9:00 a.m. This hearing will be open to the press.

Wimbush, Saffold, and Davis were each charged with Assault with Intent to Murder and Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm. Wimbush was arraigned earlier this week and received a $500,000 cash/surely bond. His preliminary examination will be held before Judge Joseph Baltimore on April 21, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. Saffold and Davis were arraigned earlier this week and received $500,000 cash/surely bonds and will have their preliminary examinations on April 21, 2014 before Judge Jones-Coleman.

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Jayru Campbell - Cass Tech High School student charged with the assault of a School Security Guard. The case is scheduled for tomorrow, April 11, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Timothy Kenny.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Steve Utash Beating Case - The 16-year-old juvenile male had his preliminary hearing today on charges of Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm and Ethnic Intimidation. He was given a $400,000 cash/surety bond by the court. The pre-trial conference is scheduled before Judge Jerome Cavanaugh on April 17, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. in the Lincoln Hall of Justice. The juvenile will continue to be held in the Juvenile Detention Center if he does not post his bond.

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