Sheriffs Catch Lakeville Man with Hammer by Broken Quicklee’s Window

LIVONIA – A Livingston County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested a Lakeville man who was seen walking away from the broken front window of Quicklee’s when he found that the man had a hammer.

According to a press release from Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty, Jeffery Murphy, 32, was arrested for felony Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree and misdemeanor Possession of Burglar’s Tools.

“He was seen walking away from the gas station,” said Livingston County Chief Deputy Matthew Burgess. “He did not enter the building. The building does have an audible alarm, and that alarm also alerted us to the scene.”

Burgess added that the window had safety glass installed so that no hole opened when it shattered.

At approximately 3:30 AM, the Livingston County Emergency Communications 911 Center received an alert of glass breakage and a burglar alarm at the Quicklee’s Gas Station in Lakeville.

Sheriff’s Deputy Timothy Sweeting was in the area and on scene within approximately 1 minute. The Deputy saw Murphy walking near the gas station, and stopped to question him.

Further investigation revealed that Murphy had a small hammer in his possession. It was determined through the Sheriff’s Office’s investigation that Murphy had broken the window with the hammer.

Murphy was arraigned on these charges and remanded to the Livingston County Jail in lieu of $3,000 cash bail or $6,000 bail bond.

Assisting at the scene of the incident were members from the Road Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division (CID) and Forensic Identification Unit (FIU).