TROY (WWJ) — A group of five suspects are behind bars in connection with a home invasion in Troy after the homeowner spotted an intruder on their security camera.
Just before 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1, the owner of a home on Millay Drive — near Rochester and Big Beaver Roads — called police to report they were at work and they were watching an interior camera and saw an unknown person inside their home.
Officials said the suspect seen inside the home — described as a man wearing a dark shirt and a mask — had turned the interior camera towards a wall so he wouldn’t be seen. Authorities ultimately determined there were multiple suspects involved.
The suspects, all arrested after trying to flee police on Thursday, were arraigned over the weekend and are each being held on $1 million bond.
Troy police Sgt. Ben Hancock told WWJ’s Ryan Wrecker “there’s definitely a possibility that they’re connected to other crimes,” but authorities are still investigating. Troy police officials said in a press release Monday the suspects are " likely connected to an international crime ring " that has been targeting homes in the area dating back to last year.
Officers quickly responded to the home and saw one suspect, 25-year-old Owen Jean Cortes, running away from the home through the Pro Car Wash parking lot. As officers began chasing him west across Rochester Road, he jumped a cement wall behind a business.
He was eventually taken into custody near Hidden Ridge Drive and Colebrook Avenue.
Other officers saw a second suspect, 39-year-old Michel Leandro Alba Rincon, walking slowly on the sidewalk and recording the foot chase. He was then seen walking into Noni’s restaurant, where he was taken into custody.
A third suspect, 48-year-old Omar Giovvany Rodriguez-Aponte, was seen getting into a Honda Odyssey with a Virginia license plate. When officers pulled that car over, they arrested Rodriguez-Aponte, along with the driver — 43-year-old Alberto Franco-Jimenez — and another passenger, 27-year-old Geovanny Enreque Castellanos-Forero.
All five suspects were arraigned on charges of second-degree home invasion, while Cortes is facing an additional charge of possession of burglary tools and Franco-Jimenez an additional charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Hancock said police are working with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and Homeland Security officials to determine the suspects’ immigration status. In an update late Thursday afternoon, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office issued a press release identifying Cortes, Rodriguez-Aponte and Alba Rincon as citizens of Colombia, while Franco-Jimenez is a citizen of Mexico. Castellanos-Forero's citizenship was not disclosed.
Hancock said the homeowner was “very fortunate” they had a camera inside their home, saying such cameras are “very helpful” in helping police with these types of investigations.
“We commend our Road Patrol Officers, Detectives, and Special Investigations Unit on a tremendous collaborative effort resulting in the arrest of five suspects who are likely connected to an international crime ring,” Troy police officials said in the release.
Officials have not disclosed the suspects’ next court dates.
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