(WWJ) A routine deep clean ended in a police bust when a crew hired off social media allegedly stole from an Oakland County home, and brought drugs onto the property.
Three people are facing charges in connection with the incident, last Friday in Bloomfield Township.
Bloomfield Township police said they responded just before 2 p.m. on Oct. 23 to a home on Dell Rose Drive.
The homeowner said the property was being prepared for an estate sale, and a crew had been hired off Facebook Marketplace to do the interior clean.
When the client arrived to check on the progress, they found that the cleaning crew was still at the house, but their vehicle was already packed with items taken from inside the home — including propane tanks, a Blu-Ray player, bottles of alcohol, and personal toiletries.
Officers arrived and identified the three workers as Shawna Stewart, Derek Rohner, and Niakna Russo. All three are Flint residents.
According to investigators, Rohner confessed at the scene to taking booze from the home.
Police then searched the vehicle and found the stolen items, as well as illegal narcotics inside a bag belonging to Stewart, and drug paraphernalia in Russo’s bag. Police said Russo also admitted she also has drugs and paraphernalia on her at the time.
After all were arrested and taken to the Bloomfield Township jail, where police said staff discovered that Stewart had concealed additional drug paraphernalia on her person as well.
In total, police confiscated roughly five grams of suspected methamphetamine and two grams of suspected fentanyl.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has authorized multiple charges against the trio:
- Shawna Stewart: Possession of methamphetamine (a 10-year felony) and receiving and concealing stolen property (a 93-day misdemeanor).
- Derek Rohner: Larceny in a building (a 4-year felony).
- Niakna Russo: Possession of controlled substances (a 4-year felony).
All three were arraigned in 52-1 District Court before Magistrate Morad. Stewart and Russo each received a $5,000 personal bond, while Rohner was given a $7,500, 10% cash bond.
With this case in mind, the Bloomfield Township Police Department advised homeowners to be cautious when hiring contractors or cleaners through unvetted online platforms, recommending that residents never leave unfamiliar workers unattended inside their homes.
Three people, all Flint residents, are facing charges
Three people, all Flint residents, are facing charges
