Suspect arraigned in fatal shooting of Melvindale police officer
(CBS DETROIT) - The man arrested in the fatal shooting of Melvindale police officer Mohamed Said was arraigned Thursday.
Michael Lopez, 44, of Southfield, has been charged with homicide-murder of a peace officer, weapons possession by a person, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, weapons carrying with unlawful intent, five counts of felony firearm and fourth of offense habitual offender.
During Thursday's arraignment in the 24th District Court in Allen Park, Judge Richard Page was visibly emotional when reading the first charge. Page remanded Lopez to jail and said another district court would be assigned the case to avoid any conflict of interest.
Lopez is due back in court for a probable cause hearing on Aug. 12.
Lopez was also arraigned Thursday in connection with the robbery of an Auto Zone store in Lincoln Park on July 20.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Lopez entered the Auto Zone at around 8:47 p.m. on July 20, Lopez allegedly entered the store as a customer, pointed a handgun at a store employee and robbed the store of money and knives before fleeing. He was charged with armed robbery, felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and two counts of felony firearm.
A probable cause conference for the robbery case is scheduled for Aug. 6.
"Policing is one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet," said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. "The alleged facts in this case will show that this defendant callously gunned down and killed 23-year-old Officer Mohamed Said, who was just doing his job and had just begun his career in law enforcement. Tragic does not even begin to describe that happened here."
The shooting happened at 11:39 a.m. on Sunday in the 17000 block of Clarann Street in Melvindale.
Said responded to reports of suspicious activity at Oakwood and Dix near a carwash. When he arrived, he approached Lopez, who ran away from him. Police said that during a pursuit, Said tased Lopez, who then pulled out a gun and shot the officer.
The ATF, Michigan State Police, Melvindale police, the National Police Defense Foundation, and U.S. Marshals partnered to investigate the case and offered a $37,500 reward for information while they were searching for Lopez.
Lopez was arrested in Southwest Detroit on Monday.
Said had been a Melvindale officer for one year.
Funeral visitation services for Said will be held from noon to 8 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the American Moslem Society, which is also in Dearborn.
Community members showed support for Said's family by tying ribbons around trees and polls following a vigil Monday night. On Thursday, the Dairy Queen at 4600 Greenfield Road in Dearborn will donate 100% of all mini Blizzard sales to the fallen officer's family.
On Friday, the West Born Carwash location in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights will donate 50% of their earnings to Said's family.