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Westland, MI - On October 12, 2013 Sgt. Torolski conducted a traffic stop of a suspicious vehicle. After questioning the occupants, Sgt. Torolski searched the vehicle.  During this search Sgt. Torolski recovered narcotics as well as a backpack which contained pry bars, bolt cutters, flashlights and ski masks. Sgt. Torolski also discovered a key and key ring with the words "Griffith Church".  Sgt. Torolski looked up Griffith Church on the internet and located one in Eaton County.  Sgt. Torolski contacted the Eaton County Sherriff's Department and was informed that the Griffith Church had been burglarized the night prior.  Jackson County Sheriff's Department and was also investigating the B&E of a church near Hodges's former residence as well as 2 more in neighboring Columbia Twp. 

 

"We are proud our highly skilled police department and the dedication of our officers," said Mayor William Wild. "Keeping our residents safe in our city is vital in creating a quality of life that we all deserve and that includes protecting our religious institutions that give our residents freedom to worship and fellowship."

 

Sgt. Kummert was assigned the case for follow up.  Sgt. Kummert interviewed the Subjects who ultimately admitted to breaking into Griffith Church in Eaton County and admitted they had stolen items in a bedroom located at 34604 Cherry Hill.  Sgt. Kummert searched the Cherry Hill address and recovered several items which were later connected to other church Breaking and Entering (B&E's) in Garden City, Ann Arbor, Lenawee County and Columbia Twp.  Sgt. Kummert was able to tie these Subjects to burglaries of at least five churches in the Jackson area along with a church in Garden City (1075 Venoy).  

 

Sgt. Kummert and was able to help Lenawee County, Ann Arbor, Argentine Twp., Washtenaw County, Eaton County and Garden City in identifying Morris, Hodges and Hanson as subjects involved in church B&E's in their jurisdictions.  A church B&E task force had been formed over a year ago which had surveillance images of subjects they were attempting to identify. Hodges, Morris and Hanson were identified after this information was brought to light.  There were several dozen other cases of church B&E's in Wayne, Washtenaw, Lenawee, Jackson, Eaton and Monroe Counties that were unsolved at the time.   Morris, Hodges and Hanson have been charged in Columbia Twp. and Lenawee County.  Westland, Garden City, Eaton County, Monroe County and Ann Arbor PD are all obtaining out of custody warrants for Morris, Hodges and Hanson for church B&E's based on Sgt. Kummert's investigation and evidence recovered from 34604 Cherry Hill.

 

It has been learned that Hanson is also wanted out of Minnesota for felony B&E and possession of narcotics.  Morris is currently on parole for B&E. Morris, Hanson and Hodges are all currently lodged in the Lenawee County Jail and are awaiting trial/sentencing. 

 

"This is a perfect example of the thorough and detailed investigative work that the Westland Police Department routinely conducts," said Chief Jedrusik. "It started with street smart investigative work by Sergeant Jon Toroloski and ended with incredible Detective Bureau work by Sergeant Richard Kummert to not only tie up the Westland investigation but also approximately 50 church B&E's located between Westland and Jackson."