In a significant breakthrough for law enforcement, two suspects have been arrested and charged with multiple felony crimes related to a series of postal robberies in Metro Detroit over the past two months.
Michael Smith-Ellis, a 30-year-old resident of Detroit, and Terrance Tucker, a 32-year-old resident of Inkster, were apprehended by Northville police following their latest alleged incident. Authorities claim the pair robbed a United States Postal worker at gunpoint on Tuesday, October 24.
However, further investigations revealed that the two men also matched the description of suspects involved in several similar crimes, which included the theft of mail, money, or federal property.
According to a federal complaint, the duo robbed a postal employee in Taylor on September 25, around 11:35 a.m. The worker was delivering mail when they were approached by two armed individuals in the Courtyards Apartment Complex. One of the suspects was reportedly carrying a Glock-style weapon and allegedly threatened the USPS employee, saying, “Don’t Scream, B—.” The USPS employee surrendered her keys, including an arrow key that can access postal mailboxes, before the suspects fled the scene in a black pick-up truck, as stated in the federal complaint.
The victim described the suspects as being 5’6” tall, African American, with a thinner build. They appeared to be younger and were wearing all black attire with black masks. Taylor police noted that this robbery closely resembled another incident on September 1 in the same area, during which another mail carrier was robbed of an arrow key.
As Downriver police continued their investigations, another postal theft occurred in broad daylight on Tuesday, October 24 in Northville. The victim, who was filling mailboxes off Northville Place Drive at around 12:45 p.m., reported that she was approached by two black males armed with guns and dressed in all black with their faces concealed by masks. Similar to the Downriver cases, the suspects demanded the USPS employee’s arrow key.
These arrests represent a significant step forward in resolving the series of postal robberies that have plagued the Metro Detroit area. The suspects are now facing multiple felony charges as the investigation into their activities continues.
