DNA Evidence Leads To Indictment In Tapper's, Medawar Jewelers Robberies
WEST BLOOMFIELD (WWJ) - A Philadelphia man has been indicted on charges in connection with jewelry store robberies in West Bloomfield and Grand Rapids earlier this year.
U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade says the FBI and local investigators were able to recover blood from one of the robbery scenes and link it to 42-year old Nationiel Pembrook who was shot by the store owner.
According to the indictment, on April 22, Pembrook, along with three other people, robbed two jewelry stores.
The first robbery took place at Medawar Jewelers located on Plainfield Avenue in Grand Rapids. The second robbery took place at Tapper's Diamonds and Fine Jewelry on Orchard Lake in West Bloomfield.
In both robberies, the robbers entered the stores during business hours with their faces covered or partially covered and brandished a firearm while ordering employees and customers to the floor. At Tapper's, police said all three suspects showed handguns, forcibly push several people down, and were very specific about what they wanted — emptying a case of Rolex watches.
During the robbery at Medawar Jewelers, Pembrook was shot in the arm by one of the store owners, according to the indictment. Blood recovered from the scene in Grand Rapids was DNA tested and determined to be that of Pembrook, McQuade said.
"The arrest and indictment of Mr. Pembrook for his involvement in these acts of violence reflects the dedication, cooperation, and persistence of law enforcement at every level," said Paul Abbate, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, in a media release."It is this collaboration—between federal, state and local authorities—that has brought justice to bear upon Mr. Pembrook, and we will continue those efforts as we move forward in the investigation."
"We are using federal resources to address serious incidents of violent crime, such as these armed robberies, because of the high risk of harm they pose to public safety," added McQuade.
Pembrook was arrested in Philadelphia and was awaiting extradition back to Michigan on Thursday.
Three other unnamed suspects remain at large.