(WWJ) The Michigan Attorney General's Office says a series of raids in Ann Arbor, Canton and Ypsilanti on Wednesday were the result of a lengthy investigation into criminal acts of vandalism across multiple Metro Detroit communities.
On April 23, local police, Michigan State Police and the FBI served search warrants at five homes, according to the AG's office.
No arrests were made.
The AG said, in a news release Thursday, that these warrants, authorized by the 45th District Court, "were executed in furtherance of the Michigan Department of Attorney General's yearlong investigation into coordinated criminal acts of vandalism and property damage across multiple counties" in Southeast Michigan (scroll down for photos and further details).
Regarding one instance — which has been reported on after video of the police breaking down a door went viral — the AG said "an entryway was forcibly breached following more than an hour of police efforts to negotiate entry to satisfy the court-authorized search warrant."
According to the TAHRIR Coalition — which is a pro-Palestine rights group at the University of Michigan — officers arrived at 8 a.m. that morning, pulling up in in unmarked vehicles to the homes of "pro-Palestine activists" tied to UofM.
As far as the alleged acts of vandalism, many have been reported in the news — including by WWJ — over the past year.
In all cases, the AG said the crimes were committed in the middle of the night and in one case children were asleep in the home, and woke up when it happened.
"In multiple instances windows were smashed, and twice noxious chemical substances were propelled into homes. At every site, political slogans or messages were left behind," according to the AG's news release.
The AG said it the total damage from these incidents is estimated to be around $100,000.
The following dates and locations when and where the crimes under investigation occurred were provided by the AG's Office. Each includes a link to photos from the scene. (Please note: some of the photos, which are unedited, include profanity).
2/15/2024 Knollwood Country Club, West Bloomfield
6/3/2024 Goodman Acker Law Firm, Southfield
6/30/2024 Rolls Royce, Novi
7/8/2024 Maersk, Romulus
10/7/2024 UM CIO Erik Lundberg's home, Chelsea
10/7/2024 UM President Santa Ono's home, West Bloomfield
10/7/2024 Jewish Federation of Detroit, Bloomfield Hills
11/27/2024 Law enforcement officer's home, Ann Arbor
12/9/2024 UM Regent Jordan Acker's home, Huntington Woods
3/15/2025 UM Provost Laurie McCauley's home, Ann Arbor
3/19/2025 Raymond James office, Plymouth
3/19/2025 Historic Jack Wilcox House, Plymouth
No charges have been filed in this case, and the names of the suspects allegedly involved have not been released.
The AG's office said the investigation, in coordination with police in the cities where the alleged crimes occurred, is ongoing.
