5 suspects in custody after robbery, police shoot at runaway vehicle at mall near Brighton

GREEN OAK TWP. — Five women are in custody after a late Thursday night beauty store robbery that ended with police shooting at the suspects at the Green Oak Village Place mall.

Green Oak Township Police Chief Steven Kramer said the incident stemmed from what he described as an “organized retail fraud” at the Ulta Beauty store in the mall.

Officers "…responded to a report of four suspects, later determined to be five, who entered Ulta and were filling a bag with merchandise," at about 8 p.m., the department said.

As officers arrived, one suspect fled on foot and was pursued by officers. Other suspects made it to two separate vehicles and were able to drive away.

One vehicle was stopped in the parking lot by officers, including Michigan State troopers.

While one trooper was attempting to arrest the woman who fled on foot, a vehicle involved drove directly at the trooper, according to Michigan State Police. The trooper fired his weapon at the vehicle and the car was struck, but no one was injured.

Then, the vehicle was stopped in the parking lot after colliding with the back of the Men's Wearhouse store in the mall.

Alexander May, an employee at Men's Wearhouse, said he was working when he heard gunshots outside. He hid in the back of the store, and then heard a loud crash outside of the store and police came in later to tell him that a vehicle had struck the store. On Friday morning, part of the back of the store was boarded up.

"It was scary," May said.

Sophia Jeffords, who works at the Claire's store across the parking lot from Ulta, said Friday that it's scary being so close to where shots were fired.

"I'm just watching the door and who comes in here and, like, what they may have in their hands because, you know, your safety is everything," she said.

Kramer said one of the vehicles believed to be connected to the suspects at the scene had a New Jersey license plate.

State Police First District Public Information Officer Lt. Rene Gonzalez said there has been a string of incidents across the country at Ulta Beauty stores, but police did not yet know if this incident was connected. Ulta stores sell cosmetics and other beauty products.

According to the WDIV Channel 4 in Detroit, groups of women have been robbing Ulta Beauty stores across Metro Detroit. It's unclear if this incident was connected to the other robberies.

Ulta Beauty employees at the Green Oak store declined to comment Friday.

"Organized retail crime impacts manufacturers, consumers, employees and communities," Ulta Beauty Director of Public Relations Crystal Carroll said in a statement Friday. "As our assortment, store footprint and brand awareness have grown, Ulta Beauty has increasingly become a target for these criminals. The safety of our guests and associates is always our highest priority. Our policies and practices reflect the ever-evolving retail landscape and include a variety of best practices and trainings to mitigate threats.

"Our loss prevention team continues to partner with law enforcement and other retailers across the country to address this issue and bring criminals to justice."

The women are in the Livingston County Jail awaiting arraignment for multiple charges that police expect will include organized retail fraud and felonious assault.

Green Oak Township officers were assisted by Michigan State Police troopers and no one was injured in the incident, Kramer said.

The allegations of theft will be investigated by the Green Oak Township Police Department. The MSP 3rd District Special Investigation Section will investigate the shooting by the state trooper. The investigation is ongoing. The trooper involved in the shooting, whose name was not released, is on administrative leave pending the investigation.

The Green Oak Village Place mall is located in the 9600 block of Village Place Boulevard near Brighton, south of Interstate-96 and east of U.S. 23. It includes more than 40 stores and restaurants.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: 5 suspects in custody after 'organized retail fraud' at Brighton area mall