they say he is now detained with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) The agency, through the Department of Homeland Security picked the suspect up last Friday after it was confirmed he was in the U.S on a temporary work visa that recently expired “It doesn’t seem like they have the correct processes and procedures in place and there’s some serious allegations coming out of the facility have some serious investigations going on,” Saab said “We want an independent investigation through LARA and the AG’s office.” the 62-year-old man told police he found the teen in distress near a car wash close to Beech and Joy roads Police said he allowed her to use his cell phone is now being psychologically evaluated and police are waiting to speak with her further Dearborn Heights and partnering agencies still need to interview her regarding potential involvement with other “Johns” and a former Vista Maria male staff member “The goal is to find out what was going on while she was missing for almost a month and a half,” said Chief Ahmed Haida of the Dearborn Heights Police Department A tipster spotted the teen and the 62-year-old alleged suspect at a Meijer store near Warren and Newburgh roads on April 10 Police said they’re unsure what sort of threats or promises had been made to the teen but she reportedly made statements that she could only use the cell phone while supervised Evidence suggesting a possible sexual assault was found inside the man’s apartment “We can’t determine what exactly happened until we’re actually physically able to interview her but I strongly believe that once we are able to sit down with her and talk to her that we should have charges,” Chief Haidar said The Chief said it appears the 62-year-old suspect had multiple opportunities to come forward with information about the teen’s whereabouts as he said police canvassed the area and even did an interview with him Police said the suspect denied knowing or ever seeing the teen so we haven’t really been able to talk to him much other than preliminary stuff… anything detailing the investigation as another teen is missing from the Vista Maria facility and former and current staff and residents allege “years” of physical and sexual abuse tensions around Vista Maria have escalated In an email from one Dearborn Heights Council member “The City of Dearborn Heights City Council is deeply concerned about the ongoing issues at your facility and operational failures are completely unacceptable These issues have placed a serious strain on our first responders The council member then asked for “immediate action,” including a full report detailing all recent incidents involving police response a complete review of operational compliance with all State of Michigan licensing and regulatory requirements including Child Protective Services and Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and 20th District Court regarding process and procedures of the facility and a review of the Certificate of Occupancy and any licenses issued by the City of Dearborn Heights “You are required to schedule a meeting with the Dearborn Heights City Council and City Administration This meeting must take place within the next 7 days and must include your executive leadership team and any appropriate directors responsible for facility operations Failure to respond or cooperate fully will leave the City Council no choice but to pursue all available legal remedies to protect the health “I’m happy that everybody in the community is involved now and they see the problems that we’re having there,” Chief Haidar said “We need to get this right; calls for service are insane Kids can’t keep coming up missing from there.“ Dearborn Heights Police are still looking for another missing girl tied to the same facility: 13-year-old Tamaia Jones. She allegedly ran away from Vista Maria on Tuesday, April 22, and hasn’t been seen or heard from since then. She was last seen wearing khaki skinny jeans, a tan top, and had a red hairpiece, according to police. Police told Local 4 that the girl was recently transferred to Vista Maria from another facility and ran away before intake was made, but did, however, make it onto Vista Maria’s property. Anyone who has seen Tamaia or has any information about the teen is asked to call the Dearborn Heights Police Department at 313-277-6770, their local police department, or 911. “Every single day runs. People are escaping, and it’s a good facility to have in our community -- It supports the youth, vulnerable people, but we also have got make sure, [the girls] are in a safe facility and in a safe environment.” Here is a statement from a spokesperson from Vista Maria from April 25: “Vista Maria has a 142-year history of providing residential care, mental health services, schooling, foster care, adoption and adoption services for youth, as well as transitional and independent living services for girls ages 18-24 through referrals from the state for young people dealing with issues such as neglect, abuse and human trafficking. The safety and well-being of the youth and families we serve is our top priority. On Tuesday, April 22, 13-year-old Tamaia Jones was on her way to Vista Maria, after being transferred from another facility. As the transfer vehicle came to a stop upon arrival, Tamaia opened the vehicle door and fled the campus before she could be checked into the facility. We immediately alerted and initiated the search for her. We have been working with law enforcement ever since to help ensure her safe return. Our thoughts are with her family and friends. Anyone with information about this case should contact Dearborn Heights Police at 313-277-6770, your local police department, or call 911." Here is a statement from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services from April 24: Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group With continued commitment to strategic growth in core markets EWC now operates 113 express wash locations across Detroit over 25 new sites are set to break ground or open by the end of 2025— including four in Detroit Metro by early summer Additional Clean Express grand opening promotions include a $50 Clean Express gift card for $25 with all proceeds donated back to Blue Hands United and The DRE Project Once purchased at the Dearborn Heights or Troy locations gift cards are redeemable at any Clean Express or EWC location Clean Express offers state-of-the-art wash equipment with all washes backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee The popular Wash Smart Unlimited Club enables members to easily clean and protect their vehicles while enjoying the convenience and value of truly unlimited washing at any Express Wash Concepts location Express Wash Concepts (EWC) today announced the Company's newest Green Clean Express Auto Wash is open and washing cars at 833 Battlefield Blvd Express Wash Concepts (EWC) today announced it has once again been recognized as one of the fastest-growing Midwest private companies Automotive Transportation, Trucking & Railroad Retail Corporate Expansion Do not sell or share my personal information: DEARBORN HEIGHTS – Nearly a month and a half after a 16-year-old girl escaped from a juvenile care center in Dearborn Heights local police have located her living in a home in the city with a Lebanese national who has since been arrested and handed over to U.S Authorities discovered that he was residing in the U.S Dearborn Heights Police Chief Ahmed Haidar said he would not be returning the girl to the Vista Maria Center in Dearborn Heights due to multiple allegations of abuse at the facility and the unexplained disappearance of another 13-year-old girl former and current employees and residents at Vista Maria allege years of physical and sexual abuse staff shortages and decaying infrastructure There are growing calls for the state of Michigan to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the facility — possibly leading to its closure While awaiting the results of the investigation and any official charges Haidar declined to release the name of the 62-year-old man who took the girl in from March 17 until the police raid on his house on April 24 Authorities say the man and the girl had no prior relationship Haidar explained that the man had encountered the girl on the street near a car wash where he worked at the intersection of Inkster and Joy Roads he invited her to stay in his home near Warren and Inkster Roads and provided her with housing and financial support for her needs “We believe she was just a girl wandering the streets with no money and no place to go and then she met this man who offered her all these things,” Haidar told reporters The police chief thanked everyone who had provided information during the search which included publicizing the girl’s name and photo While awaiting the results of a sexual assault examination Haidar said the girl appeared to move freely within the home and had access to a phone He expressed surprise that she never attempted to call for help during her time there Haidar raised questions about why the girl was afraid to leave especially since she had accompanied the man on several outings to public places He emphasized that investigations would reveal more details in time The girl is currently in the custody of Michigan’s Child Protective Services Police investigators are conducting interviews to determine whether others were involved in her disappearance or had sexual contact with her — including a former Vista Maria staff member and two other men Police are also investigating whether the girl was a victim of sex trafficking following reports of her communication with two customers Haidar said police plan to question the girl about both men who could face criminal charges if it’s confirmed they had sexual contact with a minor “What’s troubling is that when we first received tips suggesting the girl might be in this area we were told she was last seen near a car wash,” Haidar said regarding the man who housed her he denied having seen her and refused to provide any information about her whereabouts.” Police also discovered a “wish list” written by the girl in the man’s house she wrote that she wanted to leave the state “She wasn’t locked in a basement or anything like that,” Haidar added “There were times when she went out with the man Haidar reiterated that the girl would not be sent back to Vista Maria suggesting she may have been fleeing someone at the center He noted that the disappearance of another teenage girl from the same facility further supports fears of serious abuse within the 142-year-old institution which has led some girls to flee toward Detroit Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" views and interviews from the Arab world and the Arab American community.. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" 1 (313) 582 - 4888 info@arabamericannews.com © 2025 The Arab American News views and interviews from the Arab world and the Arab American Community (WXYZ) — Dearborn Heights police have shared new details about the disappearance and rescue of 16-year-old Tasia Keaton After extensive searching for over a month police located Keaton Wednesday afternoon inside the apartment of a 62-year-old man Watch our previous report about Tasia Keaton's disappearance in the video player below: a facility for vulnerable girls and women in Dearborn Heights expressed relief at the news of Keaton's discovery "I had started suspecting the worst had happened because it had been so long." Authorities reported that Keaton was found at an apartment near Warren Avenue and Inkster Road Watch an update from police after Tasia Keaton was found in the video player below: Police say they had previously questioned the man when Keaton originally went missing and he denied knowing anything about where she was Wade said "I immediately became angry all over again because I know that there is no way he didn’t know how old she was and that she was being looked for." Dearborn Heights Police Chief Ahmed Haidar revealed that Keaton had been with the man since March 17 Keaton met the man while she was roaming the streets near Joy and Inkster roads in Redford They believe the man promised her a home and financial support but he only allowed her to use it when he was present," Haidar explained Police discovered a wishlist made by Keaton that included desires to move out of state They noted that she was allowed to roam the house and that the two were seen together in public The 62-year-old man is in custody but has not been cooperative with police Evidence at the scene suggests that Keaton and the man may have engaged in sexual relations but I believe she was scared," Haidar said Keaton is now in the custody of Child Protective Services and receiving care Vista Maria gave 7 News Detroit this statement: both police and Wade have voiced frustration with the facility indicating that Keaton may have been trying to escape from someone there "We spend too much time up there," Haidar stated I’m so mad that my niece even went there." Police and Wade emphasized that without tips from the community They expressed heartfelt gratitude for the public's assistance This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy Two people were found dead with gunshot wounds in a Dearborn Heights home Wednesday to a home in the 3900 block of Williams Street near Annapolis and Monroe streets for a wellness check They arrived and found the bodies of a 60-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman with gunshot wounds Police said the investigation is ongoing but detectives believe their shootings were part of an isolated incident and there was no threat to the public director of the city's Public Safety Department told the media Wednesday investigators believe the two were dating and the man shot the woman before taking his own life The incident is the latest murder-suicide in Metro Detroit Last month police said they believe a 33-year-old Vassar man shot and killed a 34-year-old Saginaw woman at an Auburn Hills hotel and then took his own life In November Harper Woods police said a man and woman were found dead in a home after a shooting and investigators determined their deaths stemmed from a domestic violence incident The month before a 26-year-old Warren man was fatally shot by his mother in a murder-suicide DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – A suspected bank robber was caught by police in Dearborn Heights at a coffee shop next to the bank. It happened at about 2 p.m., Thursday, April 24, at the Dearborn Federal Savings Bank on Telegraph Road, near Colgate Street. Police said the suspect pointed a handgun at a teller and announced he was robbing the bank. During the investigation, police reportedly found the suspect inside a Tim Hortons on Telegraph Road, less than 300 feet from the bank. He allegedly tried to disguise himself by putting on a wig. Police were able to recover the money and took the man into custody. Dane Kelly is an Oreo enthusiast and producer who has spent the last seven years covering Michigan news and stories. DEARBORN HEIGHTS – With the filing deadline for municipal elections now closed four candidates have officially entered the race to succeed Mayor Bill Bazzi Among them is City Council Chair Mo Baydoun who will face Councilwoman Denise Malinowski-Maxwell businessman Hussein Anani and real estate broker Lena Arzouni Bazzi withdrew from the race by the April 25 legal deadline as he awaits confirmation as U.S Arzouni is expected to receive his endorsement The top two vote-getters in the mayoral primary will advance to the general election on November 4 which will also include races for four open City Council seats Because the number of candidates for Council and treasurer does not exceed double the number of open seats there will be no primary elections for those positions — per the city charter Municipal elections in Dearborn Heights are held every four years whose seven members are elected in staggered terms unlike neighboring Dearborn where all Council members are elected at once all seeking re-election to four-year terms are running for the seat vacated by Malinowski-Maxwell who opted to run for mayor instead of seeking another term on the Council The City Council also includes Hassan Saab and Bob Constan who would have to vacate his seat if he wins the mayoral election in November His current term runs until the end of 2027 City Clerk Lynne Senia will automatically retain her position for another four-year term both candidates — incumbent Lisa Hicks-Clayton and Mahdi Baydoun — will automatically advance to the November general election Pending confirmation of President Trump’s nomination of the mayor by the U.S Bazzi — a Lebanese American — is preparing to relocate to Tunisia Dearborn Heights is set to elect its 10th mayor of the city of roughly 65,000 residents Bazzi made history as the first Arab American and Muslim to serve as mayor of Dearborn Heights (WXYZ) — A 16-year-old girl who left a social services housing facility last month has been found safe Tasia Keaton left Vista Maria on March 14 and was last seen in the Detroit area officials told us that Tasia was found safely Officials say she was found in the Dearborn Heights apartment of a 62-year-old man Officials say a community tip led investigators to the apartment They are expected to release more details during a 1pm Thursday news conference More from our original story below so that we can come get her," said Trisha Wade said they believe she was later picked up by someone assaulted and taken to a local hotel before being brought back to the area of Stout Street and Joy Road.  at the Dearborn Federal Savings Bank on Telegraph Road Police said the suspect approached a teller shoved a black bag under the window and told the teller take the bag.” He then reportedly placed a handgun on the counter moved to another teller and demanded more money He reportedly left the bank with $4,140 in cash Officers arrived at the scene and found a man matching the description at a Tim Horton’s less than 300 feet from the bank had a backpack that had a loaded handgun and $4,100 in cash According to an affidavit, Thomas has two prior convictions for bank robbery. He is facing federal charges, including bank robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence and felon in possession of a firearm. (WXYZ) — Police are investigating after a school bus crashed into a tree in Dearborn Heights on Tuesday morning Police responded to the crash around 7:40 a.m near the intersection of W Warren Ave & Amboy St A neighbor we spoke to said it happened right after 7:30 a.m. saying that the bus was smoking on arrival CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Doorbell camera showcases school bus crash in Dearborn Chopper 7 captures aftermath of Dearborn School Bus Crash The bus belongs to Crestwood School District We're told no one was injured in the crash and the dozens of kids on the bus got on another bus for schools DEARBORN HEIGHTS – Police are searching for a 13-year-old girl who left a Dearborn Heights treatment facility for girls earlier this week Tamaia Jones allegedly ran away from Vista Maria on Tuesday and hasn’t been seen or heard from since then She was last seen wearing khaki skinny jeans Police told Local 4 that the girl was recently transferred to Vista Maria from another facility and ran away before intake was made is asked to call the Dearborn Heights Police Department at 313-277-6770 This comes after a 16-year-old ran away from Vista Maria on March 14 That teen was found in a 62-year-old man’s Dearborn Heights apartment on Wednesday Police said the 62-year-old is in custody they are submitting the case to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for charges The 16-year-old is safe and is now in the custody of Child Protective Services The investigation also prompted several former residents to come forward with allegations of abuse There are currently two open investigations involving sexual contact between a former male staff member and two teen residents On Tuesday, April 22, 13 year old Tamaia Jones was on her way to Vista Maria, after being transferred from another facility. As the transfer vehicle came to a stop upon arrival, Tamaia opened the vehicle door and fled the campus before she could be checked into the facility. We immediately alerted and initiated the search for her. We have been working with law enforcement ever since to help ensure her safe return. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.   Anyone with information about this case should contact Dearborn Heights Police at (313) 277-6770, your local police department, or call 911. " Sara Powers joined WDIV as a digital content producer in Oct. 2024 and has been covering Metro Detroit news since 2021. Erika Erickson The teen was found in an apartment near Warren and Inkster at about 1:40 p.m after she reportedly ran away from Vista Maria Police initially said the man was in his 50s right after they made the arrest and then said he was 65 during a press conference on Thursday Dearborn Heights Police Chief Ahmed Haidar also revealed more details about finding the teen You can watch the full press conference in the video at the top of this article the teen was taken to the police station and then to the Children’s Hospital for a sexual assault kit She has since been turned over to Child Protective Services Haidar said they will submit the case to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for “numerous” charges The chief said they believe the teen had been with the man since March 17 and don’t believe she knew him before that day The teen was allegedly walking around near Joy and Inkster roads when she met the man Haidar said he gave the teen a place to stay and money “I believe this is a little child that had nowhere to go but he only allowed her to use it when he was present.” The chief also said he believes there was sexual contact between the teen and the man based on some of the evidence collected at the apartment A factor of the case that the chief found disturbing was that when detectives were out canvassing the area during the search for the teen the man they arrested had been one of the people they interviewed Police said the man has no criminal history but won’t release more information until charges are issued Police also found a wish list that the teen had written while at the apartment in which she wrote that she wanted to move out of the state When asked if the teen would go back to Vista Maria at some point The chief said there have been ongoing issues with the facility there are juveniles that leave that facility all the time There have been times where they pull the fire alarm and they escape through the woods and end up in the city of Detroit there could be numerous ways that they got out of that facility Haidar said his officers spend too much time at Vista Maria, and previously said that in 2024 alone, there were over 300 calls for service at the facility Haidar said that Vista Maria has reached out to meet with the department to discuss how they can address the challenges and better secure the facility Here’s the statement Vista Maria released after the teen was found: “All of us at Vista Maria are relieved and grateful that [Name Removed] has been found and is safe and receiving support Our thanks go out to the many law enforcement agencies that worked hard to find her especially the Dearborn Heights Police Department We appreciate the outpouring of support from the community including the many tips that helped the police in their search Vista Maria stands ready to support [Name Removed] and her family in any way we can in the future.” The chief said there are two open investigations involving sexual contact between a former male staff member and two teen residents within the last several months one of which involves the 16-year-old that was just found Police also said the teen had been seen with two other “Johns,” and they have identified one of those people as a man in his 30s During the investigation, several former Vista Maria residents came forward with allegations of abuse. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released the following statement on April 24, 2025: The investigation is ongoing, and more details will be revealed as the case moves forward. (WXYZ) — Wyandotte is a historic city in southern Wayne County As we look to get around to communities in the area in our new “Let's Talk” series we also want to go beyond that with our reporters On Tuesday, 7 News Detroit reporter Carli Petrus visited Wyandotte, and she even shared on social media that she was eager to hear the stories you want us to highlight Some people shared with us that there was a dire situation unfolding in Dearborn Heights involving a water main break that is leading to some people being forced out of their homes Carli went there to hear their frustration and find out from the city what is at the root of it all Residents of the Pelham Mobile Home Park were frustrated when a recent water main break left them without water and her family have been living at Pelham Mobile Home Park for about two weeks "We had to put our girls somewhere," she said Jada says the last home she and her family were renting was condemned after the roof fell in forcing them to move from motel room to motel room until they found something they thought was more stable their mobile home is being condemned by the city of Dearborn Heights Jada says it started with a water main break in the middle of the park "I worked hard to make the money to get here and to pay my bills Gary Bojanowski says he noticed the orange condemned sign on his window about two days ago "I ain't got no place to go," Bojanowski said Paul Vanderplow with the city of Dearborn Heights says they were made aware of the water issue by residents on Saturday The issue was happening on private property but Vanderplow says they were concerned about the safety of the residents "Mayor brought together quite a few people to address this as quickly as he could," Vanderplow said Some of these concerns are also county concerns so unfortunately if there's open sewage lines or there's just no serviceable water they just can't be inhabited," Vanderplow said I spoke to the property manager off camera about the issues uncovered by the city He says he's working with residents to fix what he can "The city has been addressing issues at this trailer park for a number of years because we understand what is going to come and unfortunately the issue finally happened and people got caught up in it," Vanderplow said Vanderplow assures me that the residents whose homes are being condemned will be given assistance in finding another place to live DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – A school bus crashed into a tree in a Dearborn Heights neighborhood Tuesday morning. According to police, the driver of the school bus appeared to have hit a parked car on Amboy Street near Inkster and Warren at around 7:45 a.m. on April 15. This led to the school bus being forced into a nearby tree. Police said a few children were checked out by first responders and were released to their parents. Crestwood School District officials said a replacement bus transported the students safely to Riverside Middle School. A woman who lives in the home in front of the tree told Local 4 she has been living there for 12 years and has never seen anything like this. She said one child appeared to be in pain, but it looked like there were no major injuries in the crash. “Our first priority is always the safety of our students,” said Scott Casebolt, Crestwood Student Services Specialist. “Thanks to the quick actions of our team and first responders, every student was safely and professionally cared for.” “We are grateful that all students are safe and that the situation was handled swiftly and with care,” said Dr. Youssef Mosallam, Superintendent of Crestwood Schools. “Our commitment to student safety and clear communication with families remains unwavering.” School officials said afternoon bus routes are expected to run as scheduled. Samantha Sayles is an Oakland University alumna who’s been writing Michigan news since 2022. Before joining the ClickOnDetroit team, she wrote stories for WILX in Lansing and WEYI in Flint. (WXYZ) — Police in Dearborn Heights are investigating the deaths of a man and a woman in what they believe was a murder-suicide A 60-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman were found with gunshot wounds Wednesday afternoon as officers responded to a home for a wellness check They responded to the home around 2:30 p.m The two were found inside of a car that was in a garage Never see that in the neighborhood,” neighbor Jessica Kiran said a mother of ttwo says she was shocked when she looked out her window to see all the commotion in her normally quiet neighborhood but I honestly assumed they were just passing through because again Investigators said a friend talked to the man on the phone before the incident The friend became concerned and called police Authorities believe the man shot the woman before shooting himself They did not live together but had some sort of relationship Their identities have not yet been released it's hard to come out to these and have to process through these things so now Our thoughts go out to these families," Paul Vanderplow with Dearborn Heights police told reporters Two families are coming to terms with what happened including longtime friend and neighbor David Voydanoff We used to play T-ball together," Voydanoff said never had any problems with any of the neighbors.” Police believe the incident was isolated and there’s no threat to the community you can call the Dearborn Heights Police Department at 313-277-6770 You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP Don't think you're ever going through anything alone There is somebody to talk to," Vanderplow said If you're feeling suicidal or need help with your mental health call the Suicide & Crisis Hotline at 988 DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – Water customers are wondering what’s going on with their bill. It’s not a matter of it being too high. At least, not yet. Some residents claim they haven’t received a bill since last fall which is leading to concerns about accumulating charges. Residents like Mandy Keel tell Local 4 she hasn’t signed up for paperless statements and can’t access the online pay portal. “It’s been several months since I received my last bill,” she said. “We won’t be able to pay a water bill that’s four to six months overdue. It would have to be spread out.” Paul Vanderplow, director of the Mayor’s Office, explained how the city is addressing these issues by replacing aging water meters with new technology. He noted the municipal infrastructure project is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. “About a year ago, the mayor saw an initiative to replace some of our older water meters,” Vanderplow said. “These older meters required physical readings, which took time. Normal water bills were issued every six months under the old system.” With the new meters, the city aims to reduce billing cycles to every two months. Currently, the city has replaced approximately 700 meters and is on track with its replacement schedule. Vanderplow acknowledged the challenges residents face during this transition. “We’re still in a transition between an old infrastructure and the new technology,” he said. “Sometimes, the meter readings take longer than expected, which can lead to residents receiving multiple bills at once.” Another resident, Tammy Day, shared her shock upon receiving a large bill after a long wait. Vanderplow emphasized that the city is committed to improving the efficiency and accuracy of the billing process. “We are trying to ensure our residents receive their bills in a timely manner so they can budget appropriately,” he said. While the project is on schedule, the city did run into lead service lines. The initiative did run into a delayed start, however Vanderplow said the project is currently on schedule. Crews did run into lead service lines which lead to replacement work. As the city continues to install new meters, officials hope to activate reception towers that will allow for monthly readings in the future. However, they acknowledge that communication with residents about these changes could be improved. Shawnte Passmore joined WDIV in August 2024 after working at KOVR in Sacramento, California, WFSB in Hartford, Connecticut and KMTV in Omaha, Nebraska. (WXYZ) — Families financially strapped and out of options thought they had found a place to call home but say they feel deceived by the property managers in their Dearborn Heights mobile home community Earlier this month we told you about the problems facing the people living at the Pelham Mobile Home Park after a water main break revealed even bigger concerns to city inspectors I back out there today talking to people living there and heard from a city official who saw firsthand what one family is up against inside their home Original story: Water main break leads to some being forced out of homes in Dearborn Heights heat or gas are problems some in the neighborhood are dealing with there will be no water because the water will freeze so we have to use the heaters to keep it warm and warm up certain pipe areas," resident Jada V said I first spoke with Jada about two weeks ago when she found out the city was condemning her mobile home and so many others in the neighborhood "It's very hard when you're trying to find a stable home and when people put ads out there you just try to hope that it's a good one that's stable," she said who she says didn't tell her how bad her unit really was when she bought it Jada walks us through parts of her home in the video player below: I asked Jada if I could bring Paul Vanderplow with the mayor's office into her home Vanderplow's been part of the task force focused on getting Pelham up to code "I'm dropping everything I have and I'll focus on this for you Jada show us the conditions in her bathroom in the video player below: Vanderplow said after going into the home and seeing what the family is dealing with you can't see some conditions and not be affected by that," he said And there are more families who also feel misled by property management Govito Kirksey and his family moved into their mobile home around the same time Jada and her family did "It's almost heartbreaking because you do all this work and you trust in people and you give all your savings and you're trying to do the right thing and no matter what it seems that you can't get up," Kirksey said VIDEO: 'It's defeating': Govito Kirksey talks about battle with management at mobile home community I also stopped by the property manager's office Vanderplow assured me the city's director of internal affairs is monitoring the situation as these families try to figure out where they go next They say they don't care and to have someone that don't even know me and my little story compared to a lot of other stories just of you to come out was just amazing for me," Jada said (WXYZ) — A Dearborn Heights neighborhood is all too familiar with the damage that can be left behind after severe storms saying the flooding that happens after heavy rainfall has grown tiresome Ecorse Creek that runs along the entire neighborhood starts to flood and then their basements and homes are the next to go I have things put up," resident Randy Lopez said Lopez has lived at his home in the area of Van Born Road and Telegraph Road in Dearborn Heights since 2016. He was there in 2019, when heavy downpours created dangerous flooding conditions Some residents had to even be rescued by boat from their homes Watch our coverage from May 2019 in the video player below: but I know many of our other neighbors got feet," Lopez said The stress that comes over him every time a storm rolls through the area Kyia Dingwall has only lived in the neighborhood for two years and already she says she’s received the warm neighborhood welcome from Mother Nature I had a tree incident 'cause it was rain and wind so my neighbor’s pine tree fell on my garage," she said she's preparing for yet another round of rain she experienced her first real bout of flooding as well I saw that it was like right almost entering the house," she said about the flood waters "I didn’t think it was gonna happen to me and then it happened within a year of living here." Dingwall now has tools she can use to try to avoid the stresses of dealing with the flooding but she still watches and waits to see how bad it gets “I’m gonna make sure I stay up tonight once it restarts and then I’ll be able to turn my sump pump on so hopefully I can avoid it this time," she said about Wednesday's storms Both of these residents live along Ecorse Creek. Last year, the county began projects to clear trees to help with the flooding Tesidents say they hope those efforts work Watch our coverage from August 2024 about the project in the video player below: which one political expert said will bring his record under review President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he has nominated Mayor Bill Bazzi an Arab country of 12.3 million residents in northern Africa Bazzi will face a confirmation hearing and a likely floor ratification vote in the Senate As the news broke Tuesday night of Bazzi's nomination the council refused to consider the mayor's requests for $1.7 million in budget amendments Bazzi said Wednesday a council member's remarks about a public employee resulted in the city worker being harassed on the phone later that night The mayor declined to name the council member "It's just mind-boggling the stuff that is going on in this city," Bazzi said Strife has been a hallmark of Bazzi's time as mayor A former Marine and council member who was appointed mayor in January 2021 before being elected by voters about nine months later his tenure has been marked by clashes with some police staff council members and a new controversy with the treasurer council President Mo Baydoun and council member Hassan Saab who have repeatedly challenged Bazzi over his policies congratulated him Wednesday on his potential ambassadorship But Saab said it doesn't change the battles the mayor is having in Dearborn Heights It's a milestone for the community," Saab said "We just got to move the city forward and fight the battles we are fighting maintained that his focus the last four years has been on fixing inefficiencies and rooting out corruption in his city "Who is willing to be (a) partner of the solutions and not part of the problem?" Bazzi said in a social media post broke ranks in the traditional Democratic stronghold late in the 2024 presidential campaign to endorse Trump and appeared at Michigan rallies in support of the Republican 26 event in Novi about the violence in Gaza and that "When President Trump was president About 1 in 3 Dearborn Heights residents is of Middle Eastern descent in the city of 63,000 his record in Dearborn Heights will come under the spotlight “The interesting thing about the confirmation process is that everything you have done personally politically and socially comes under scrutiny,” said Mario Morrow Bazzi was elected in November 2021 with 72% of the vote — becoming the first Muslim mayor in the city — after getting appointed interim mayor in a 4-3 council vote following the death of Mayor Daniel Paletko in December 2020 CEO of the Grassroots Midwest political consultancy in Lansing said he isn't so sure Bazzi will draw much scrutiny from the Senate since it involves a foreign ambassadorship which the upper chamber has not historically given much attention "This particular Senate has only shown deep interest in the most controversial of nominations to cabinet level posts," Hemond said in a Wednesday email who had decided to run for mayor before Trump's nomination of Bazzi has worried that the constant disputes among city officials are damaging the city's reputation "Everybody is looking at us and saying 'What is going on in Dearborn Heights?' At one point But we are going to do whatever it takes to make it right." "If half the effort was put in place to partner with the administration in fixing these issues .. as has been placed in public shaming the investigators some of these issues stood a real chance of being fixed," Bazzi said in a video he posted last month on the city's YouTube channel "Congratulations to Mayor Bill Bazzi on his appointment as U.S Ambassador to Tunisia," Baydoun posted on Facebook "This marks a very significant moment and it is a tremendous honor recognizing his dedication to public service I wish him and his family success in this new role." Bazzi has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering (aeronautics) from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University He became a vocal supporter of Trump on the campaign trail last year speaking at rallies across the state in the campaign's final days Trump carried Dearborn Heights with 44% of the vote to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris' 38% while a Green Party candidate trailed with 15% But as the appointment proceedings progress for his ambassador nomination Bazzi's tenure as mayor will likely come under the spotlight There's an ongoing federal whistleblower lawsuit filed by current and former police brass that alleges sweeping corruption has taken root in the city government and police department And the police union has contended that scores of police officers have left the city's force Bazzi stopped attending council meetings last fall Council member Saab has accused Bazzi of "rogue vengeance." "What happened in this city was the mayor's rogue vengeance to fire people The budget issues mark the latest point of contention between some council members and the mayor Several members of the seven-member council last week expressed alarm that the city's $54 million annual budget appears to be an estimated $5 million short in anticipated revenue and that the city is dipping into its unreserved general fund to pay for services such as overtime for police the council and the mayor had a months-long standoff over the city's annual budget before the council approved a budget plan less than two days before the city would have been forced to shut down city services The months of division have motivated Baydoun to run for mayor in this year's election The mayor has really destroyed our city," Baydoun told The Detroit News The way the police department has been politicized All we've got from him is arguing and disruption." Bazzi has maintained that he's been trying to clean up Dearborn Heights A major fissure emerged in Dearborn Heights in January 2024 when a federal whistleblower lawsuit was filed by three police brass — former Police Chief Jerrod Hart who resigned in July 2024; former acting police Chief Kevin Swope; and then director Paul Vanderplow — who were brought into the department by Bazzi The trio allege they were denied their free speech rights when they tried to uncover wrongdoing District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan paints a culture of systemic graft and ineptness among elected officials including within the council and the police department The suit includes allegations of mismanagement of federal and state funds claims of nearly 900 pistol sales improperly recorded by the city an ongoing scheme to fix traffic tickets for friends of police and elected officials and threats of retaliation by council members toward police officials City attorneys have not responded to requests for comment The city has had four police chiefs in three years Bazzi appointed Officer Ahmed Haider as chief The move came as a surprise since Bazzi had appointed Deputy Chief Hassan Farhat as the interim police chief in December Bazzi's decision not to appoint Farhat as the permanent police chief sparked a backlash from Farhat and the Dearborn Heights Police Supervisor's Association that resulted last month in yet another heated council meeting "I feel I'm being retaliated against by Mr one of the police officials involved in the federal whistleblower lawsuit Vanderplow is now the police department's Internal Affairs investigator That's a new role created by Bazzi last year to look into "reports of improprieties and borderline illegal activities within the city structure — representing both elected and staff positions," according to a press release explaining the job Bazzi contended he didn't appoint Farhat as the permanent chief because of his actions during his brief stint as interim chief he came in like guns blazing but in a bad way I am fighting for them," the mayor told The News last week The allegations and the constant leadership changes have roiled the police department president of the Dearborn Heights Police Supervisor Association union "The mayor has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to the city and the police department," Szopko told the council last month The union leader contended that 40 of the city's 84 officers have left the department since Bazzi took office in this department is at an all-time low," Szopko said said Wednesday while not all of the legal battles will go away with Bazzi's departure it can help calm the conflicts between the mayor's administration "Mayor's Bazzi is a fighter," Councilman Constan said "It's just a shame a lot of this could have been avoided The whole war with the police department could have been avoided With these multiple lawsuits and different things there's just no discussion and not enough of just getting things done." Resident Sue Kaminsky disparaged Bazzi's impact on the city during a recent council "This is about the health and welfare of our city," Kaminsky said We are paying taxes and we are not represented." Bazzi decided months ago to stop attending council meetings but it ends a long tradition of mayors regularly attending the sessions "They are just trying to draw me into arguments posting statements critical of various city officials and operations he again supported the allegations in the federal lawsuit Bazzi took aim at the Treasurer's Office by declaring his new Internal Affairs office found a litany of issues "that raised concerns over the fiscal security and potential civil/criminal liabilities relating to how the Treasurer's Office was conducting several of its operations," according to a press statement A Michigan State Police investigation is underway Treasurer Lisa Hicks-Clayton said in an email to The Detroit News the state police "has taken no action" and "I suspect nothing will become of the unfounded / unsubstantiated allegations." "I genuinely believe that actions against me were politically motivated." "When I see evidence of so much mismanagement President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi will be his next ambassador to Tunisia In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Bazzi for his military service, working with diplomats around the world and work as an engineer with Ford and Boeing. This is the second mayor from metro Detroit that Trump has named as an ambassador to an Arab country over the past week: On Friday, Trump picked Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib to be his ambassador to Kuwait "Bazzi is a decorated U.S. Marine, who honorably served our Country for 21 years, collaborating with U.S. Embassy Ambassadors, Diplomats, and Leaders throughout the World," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Bazzi also worked at Boeing as a quality manager and Ford Motor Company as a product development engineer I look forward to seeing the great things he will accomplish for our Nation." Bazzi did not return a voicemail left Tuesday from the Free Press Bazzi said he was honored by Trump naming him to be ambassador More: Donald Trump picks Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib for ambassador to Kuwait the parliament cohort’s visits to the U.S. and the relations we have established over the years I am excited to return and honorably represent our Country in Tunisia as its U.S Ghalib endorsed Trump in September and hosted a rally with Trump in Hamtramck on Oct. 18. On Oct. 21, Bazzi publicly endorsed Trump in a press call with other Trump supporters in the Arab American community Bazzi said during the call that Trump will bring peace in the Middle East and end unauthorized immigration coming in" who commit "atrocities against the American people" are "pretty disgusting." About 39% of Dearborn Heights' population is of Arab descent Bazzi also expressed concern about Israel's attacks in Lebanon where he and thousands of others of Lebanese descent in Wayne County have roots "The home that my grandparents built was just destroyed a few days ago in south Lebanon," Bazzi said on the October press call held by GOP leaders Bazzi is part of the Shia Muslim community in Michigan often attending events at mosques and Lebanese centers in Dearborn Heights and nearby cities Southern Lebanon is heavily Shia and has often been in conflict with Israel over the decades "Bazzi worked hard during the 2024 Presidential Election to help us secure our Historic Victory," Trump said in his Truth Social post Tunisia is a nation in northern Africa with about 12 million people. The uprisings known as the Arab Spring started in Tunisia 15 years ago Ghalib and Bazzi must both be confirmed by the U.S Born in Lebanon, Bazzi immigrated to the U.S. when he was 10 years old and graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn according to a biography with the Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in Military Bazzi took an early retirement to serve his City as Mayor of Dearborn Heights," Trump said There is an August primary and November general election this year in Dearborn Heights for the four-year mayoral term, a nonpartisan position. If Bazzi is confirmed as ambassador and were to step down as mayor before the election, the seven-member council is asked under the city charter to select a mayor through a majority vote to fill out the unexpired term It's unclear when the Senate confirmation of Bazzi would take place and when he would resign Dearborn Heights City Council Chair Mo Baydoun announced last month on Instagram he's running for mayor The city of Dearborn Heights has been known for years for its frequent infighting among officials Bazzi has been in an ongoing dispute with younger members of the city council some of whom accuse him of being too deferential to the city establishment as they push for more Arab American representation in city government Bazzi was trying at times to act as a mediator between the two factions A lawsuit filed last year by some Dearborn Heights police officials accuse some Arab Americans on city council of having a bias against white people Bazzi in December appointed the city's first Muslim and first Arab American police chief in history the city then announced Farhat was no longer chief and named Officer Ahmed Haider as the new chief At a contentious city council meeting on Jan Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com they'll tell you President Donald Trump's first 100 days back in the White House have ranged from "turbulent" to "strong" to "evil." Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris outpaced Trump Home to Detroit and Michigan's most populous county Wayne County is a hub for Democratic votes But Republicans have made concerted efforts in the region — Trump campaigned multiple times in Detroit last year and made stops in Dearborn and Hamtramck to appeal to Arab American and Muslim voters Lansing State Journal and Center for Community Journalism - Michigan spoke with voters in the region as part of a project interviewing more than 100 Michiganders about Trump's first 100 days is a Democrat who leans progressive and she has a long list of concerns she's horrified by the Trump administration's "weird fixation" on transgender people's rights the back-and-forth on tariffs has "wreaked havoc" on everybody's lives and the economy Asked how she feels about the next four years of President Donald Trump Blakely said she doesn't feel good about it but still remains hopeful A number of friends want to leave the country and she has thought about it but she doesn't think that's the right move "I don't think that's a long-term solution and it's not practical anyway for people to just leave en masse but I get the desire to just leave for somewhere that might feel better but I'm not somebody who likes to give up," Blakely said Imad Hamad, 63, DearbornImad Hamad executive director of the American Human Rights Council in Dearborn voted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein in the November election Hamad said he was concerned about the Biden administration's support for Israel as it launched attacks against Palestinians and others running on the presidential Democratic ticket lost in many of the heavily-Arab precincts in Wayne County "We felt that we don't want our vote to go to waste even if it indirectly helped the election of President (Donald) Trump," Hamad explained Hamad is concerned about some of Trump's actions such as targeting immigrants with pro-Palestinian views but he adds that this type of targeting is not new "These are the most interesting and challenging 100 days ever in the history of presidential administrations," he said There is "a state of fear and anxiety" creating "chilling effects" among immigrants is the owner of a Detroit barbershop in Detroit's West Village Hardin typically votes Democratic and he had a Kamala Harris campaign sign posted in his shop throughout the election season Hardin described the first 100 days of President Donald Trump's second term as "unconstitutional," and then he went on to describe a feeling of powerlessness "What's frustrating is that now everything is out of the hands of the voters Even the Republicans that aren't with what he is doing are standing quiet you might as well be with what he's doing." Hardin's examples of "unconstitutional" actions taken by Trump include "deporting people without due process" and the "attack on the Department of Education." Steve Kerr, 66, CantonSteve Kerr is a retiree who is concerned about a collection of actions by the Trump administration including tariffs on the nation's allies and the influence of billionaire Elon Musk She's ready to leave this country because of him and what he's doing to our nation," Kerr said is a Democrat disappointed with her party at the state and national levels Mason described the Trump administration as a "dumpster fire" that's "dismantling democracy right in front of us." "The destruction of so many people's lives for no reason other than just sheer malice and hatred is staggering," she said pointing to cuts to the federal workforce and the move to deport Venezuelans to El Salvador scared and furious about the prospect of another four years of President Donald Trump She feels a "deep sense of despair and sadness" but her work for a statewide grassroots nonprofit helps her channel her worries Political leaders on the left are not meeting the moment When Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris lost in November Mason said she was shocked but not surprised "We're gonna have to do a reckoning on the left and figure out how we come back from this," Mason said marched down Woodward Avenue on April 5 as part of “Hands Off” protests held in opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies He said he’s worried about veteran benefits and programs being defunded and shut down He said he doesn't align with a party but uses his discretion each election “We (veterans) are concerned about what’s going to happen with our benefits the veterans who are homeless and the veterans who need so many other things," he said "All the things that have supposedly been shut down there are people concerned about that and I am among those people concerned about that … It seems like everything is on a downward spiral.” works on the cleaning crew at the Macy's store at Southland Center in Taylor and is a caregiver for a girl with autism She described President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office as "scary." “I've been seeing like some crazy things happening with planes and stuff that I wasn't seeing before,” Lawrence said adding that she wishes there were fewer fights and less finger-pointing in politics and more “respect and willingness to help the people who really need the help.” She said she opposes mass deportations but agrees with Trump's opposition to LGBTQ+ and transgender rights "That might be one thing he got right,” Lawrence said “We've just got to see what's gonna happen at this point and just pray because voted for President Donald Trump in the November election who oversees laundry services at the Red Roof Inn Ann Arbor North the president’s first 100 days in office are going “extremely well.” “I like what I'm seeing economically so far … Prices are a little high but as someone who took an economics course I understand that when you start imposing tariffs … it’s going to get worse before it gets better I'm willing to wait six months to a year because I know these things do take time.” Carter said he isn’t fond of the confrontational tact Trump has taken with Canadian leaders “The whole Canada as the 51st state bit was funny at first but “I have no problem with the Canadian people … I’m not a fan of their government but I don’t conflate the government of Canada with the people of Canada.” Carter said he’d love to see the president’s economic policies put more money in the pockets of all Americans — “it doesn't matter how they voted And I would like to see a lot less … divisive rhetoric on both sides of the aisle because as a citizen I'm a little tired of seeing that." in the November election due to concern over deaths in Gaza and Lebanon Moughni's views were echoed by many in Dearborn which has the highest percentage of residents of Middle Eastern descent among cities in the U.S President Donald Trump won in Dearborn and Jill Stein got almost 19% of the vote some are concerned with Trump's attacks on immigrants and worry his tariffs will hurt the economy Michiganders have "been affected by Trump's tariffs and immigrant policies," Moughni said Moughni added that Trump "trampled the U.S Constitution by arresting and deporting legal residents." Trump is acting reckless by surrounding "himself with 'yes men' and like the 'emperor who has no clothes' he has no one to tell him he is wrong," Moughni said is a retired assembly engineer who is a Libertarian at his core He said he is suspicious of former President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party wants President Donald Trump to "keep deporting and sending criminals to jail" and believes the federal government is too big "They don't need to be doing all these things for me I don't want them to do these things for me," Staffeld said is a retired federal employee who used the word "horrible" to describe President Donald Trump's first 100 days of his second term she went on to describe specifically why she considers Trump's actions horrible: "I think that he is overstepping his power There's no way that all of those probationary employees should have been fired because I worked for the Internal Revenue Service for 38 years and they say that we don't do any work 10 hours a day on the phone talking to people and helping them make installment agreements so that they could pay their taxes I just think that he's in there to be a power person He's not being fair and the tariffs are messing with people's businesses and their money." he voted for independent candidate Cornel West but it’s so erratic," Spencer said of the beginning of Trump's term "I think he's going about the tariffs the wrong way I'm gonna get back at you.' And then it starts to look like two kids fighting." is the CEO of the MENA American Chamber of Commerce she said she backed Trump for the first time in 2024 citing his early promises of bringing Middle East peace through diplomacy Trump played an "integral role" in achieving the ceasefire resolutions in both Lebanon and Palestine but it wasn't to the extent of what we were experiencing under President Biden we felt like there was a 180 (degree) shift in Middle East policy and the gloves were off with regard to Palestine." Nemer said she has grown increasingly concerned with the administration’s military aid to Israel she still believes the administration can be held accountable through a shift in foreign policy and stronger outreach to Arab Americans is a student interested in the arts and in the latest election She is concerned about President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs and has seen costs in her own life increase She enjoys playing "Mario Kart" and "The Legend of Zelda" but has watched the price of games skyrocket I can't get them when they come out." Looking toward the rest of his term "I’m happy this is the last time we'll see him." worked as a machine operator in automotive manufacturing but he's out of work and looking for a job He said the industry is slow due to difficulties in acquiring materials "How are people going to live?" Imposing tariffs is "killing the world," he added feels doubtful about the remainder of Trump's term "I feel it's not gonna really get any better it's gonna get worse because he wants to be a dictator instead of a president and he wants to be a businessman at the same time too." voted for President Donald Trump because she didn't like the other choices on the ballot but now the mother of five doesn't like the direction of his administration She's particularly concerned about food stamps "They're too high to even afford," she said is a biologist working in the science and medical research field where she said there have been a lot of layoffs because of EPA cuts She voted for Harris/Walz and thinks the few things Trump has done right "don't outweigh the horrible things he has done." Beard hopes Trump accomplishes everything he wants to "so we can see the destruction he is capable of." After Cory Booker's speech "I think it gave a lot of hope to the left proves that we are not going to sit by and let everything that Trump is doing happen," she said says this country is heading toward a dictatorship “He said that he would be a dictator if he became president And he’s trying to do that," Williams said of President Donald Trump And he's a leader who hasn't made good on his promises "Don't threaten my Social Security," Williams said "Prices are just too high and he promised that prices would go down and they are not." is a schoolteacher who has voted Republican in the past two elections Although President Donald Trump and DOGE have taken steps to dismantle the Department of Education she remains supportive of the administration and is "looking towards the future." "It's not easy topics but I'm remaining open and trusting that whatever changes are made will ultimately support students and us educators," Cislo said said he believes President Donald Trump is doing the right thing "We can't let everyone come over and get a free deal Instead of giving these countries tons of money and not expecting anything from them," he said borders need to be secured: "We have to know who is coming to this country from criminals to diseases and sicknesses," he said John Linares tends to vote independent but didn’t cast his vote during this past presidential election as a result of not supporting a candidate The 69-year-old from Dearborn Heights said that President Donald Trump has done a terrible job in his first 100 days in office “I don’t like what he’s doing and I don’t support him whatsoever,” Linares said “I think he’s hurting more Americans and I think his interest is mainly on him.” said he voted for President Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election While he said he believes things have been going well and has supported the efforts from the president addressing Social Security and implementing DOGE he also said that the tariffs have started to scare him and he doesn’t want the administration to be all talk "'Cause anyone can say stuff and if it don't happen a Detroit landscaper who works for himself said he has voted in every presidential election — always Democratic President Donald Trump’s second term has been “terrible” he says raising the deportation of visa holders as one reason why While Nixon hasn’t been directly affected by Trump’s policies as an aging Black man who relies on Medicaid he said he worries about potential cuts to health care and the emboldening of “racist” police Nixon said he was stressed about the direction the country was heading before Trump — particularly rising violent crime among youths “I think Trump is gonna have us in a war and I really do think he’s very prejudiced,” Nixon said it’s that he “stands up for America,” but in the next breath noting that Trump can also instigate foreign conflict “Trump could push a button and everybody is gone.” Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians who lived in the Upper Peninsula for more than 30 years before recently moving to Flat Rock but also paints Native American art and is a Horse Dancer at Pow-Wows He doesn’t see much difference between the parties and would prefer a more native form of government where the grandmothers of the village ruled He said President Donald Trump’s tenure has been “uninformed” and he’d like to see less “bigotry and lying.” Hatch said the increase in ICE activity under Trump is affecting Native Americans He said he has had friends and relatives detained who had to show their papers before being released Economic uncertainty brought on by President Donald Trump's global tariffs was particularly on the mind of Davis Greene "I can tell it’s already affecting a lot of society," he said "I know some business owners who do business overseas "We’ve gone through a lot of different things through the years with different presidents and he or she is going to have their own priorities and policies." a 36-year-old neuroscience researcher who lives in Detroit said he felt that "anger coming during the election I see that anger manifesting now in terms of anger at the LGBT community It's manifesting more severe than I thought it was ever going to be." citizen — said he will work on getting his parents' naturalization papers in order in case anyone should question their citizenship He believes in streamlining the government but also believes the people President Donald Trump has put in charge of doing so are operating beyond their level of expertise is worried that the Supreme Court's decision allowing same sex marriage could be overturned more expensive stuff and a lot more anxiety that is what we get in this presidency," he said has lived in Michigan for 23 years after moving from Jalisco She now lives in Lincoln Park and works at her family’s business in southwest Detroit which will celebrate its 40th anniversary this May Romo has worked there for the past 10 years “I carry a deep sadness with me because of everything happening in our government," Romo said about whether we’ll be safe or allowed to stay said the start of the President Donald Trump administration has just been chaos and a lot of things have been overturned “I'm currently at school and there has been a lot of pressure trying to finish school and knowing that everything has been affecting me and my schooling and financial aid," she said put her in distress because there is so much “uncertainty regarding everything that is going on.” but considers herself more of an independent — a fan and foe of various positions on either side of the aisle Her socially conservative values and desire to see blue-collar jobs return to the Midwest from overseas almost prompted her to cast a ballot for now-President Donald Trump — and with the Democratic nominee by then a Black woman she decided to stick with personal tradition and vote blue Hanshaw has mixed feelings on Trump's first 100 days While she appreciates the spirit of his tariffs she believes their rollout threatened to put the country in a worse position economically And she disagrees with Trump's zealousness on immigration as "there's more things going on." She also resents how he behaves "His presentation is horrible to me," Hanshaw said – Dearborn Heights police held a press conference on Thursday urging the public for help find a teen that’s been missing for over a month and there is information that suggests that sex trafficking may be occurring Previous coverage: ‘She may not think we care, but we do’: Flint family of missing teen pleads for her safe return who has had a troubled life — with a history of running away and even trafficked — ran away from the Vista Maria facility for vulnerable youth in Dearborn Heights on March 14 she took off with a 12-year-old girl with cognitive delays a man picked up the two girls in a dark sedan Sources told Local 4 that “John” attempted to sexually assault the 12-year-old but Tasia reportedly took the abuse instead Dearborn Heights police Chief Ahmed Haidar said they believe Tasia has been sexually assaulted at least twice since she’s been missing She was known to be in the Detroit area on Stout Street and was last seen on surveillance video on March 17 at a Marathon gas station at the corner of Beech Daly and Joy Road in Dearborn Heights there has been no contact with family or other sightings Police said she has also not been active on any social media accounts and fears she could be being held against her will Trisha Wade, who lives in Flint said the teen is originally from Tennessee and had a father in and out of jail Tasia also lost her mother not long after a cancerous brain tumor diagnosis a few years ago “Tasia moved in with me in July of 2022 because her mother got worse She passed away on Thanksgiving in 2022,” Wade said her aunt said Tasia began getting into fights and kept getting suspended from school She later met an older man while playing the video game Fortnite online and ended up in Ohio according to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is 36-year-old Greg Nieman and has since been charged with grooming and sexually assaulting the teen Tasia’s family said they are praying the teen sees that she has people concerned and comes home safely She may also be carrying a blanket with snowflakes on it and discussing or trying to get to the Grand Rapids or Livingston County areas A $5,500 reward is now being offered for information Anyone with information about Tasia Keaton or her disappearance is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Dearborn Heights Police Department at 1-313-277-6770 Dearborn Heights police said they “have no leads” regarding Keaton’s case The police department is asking for volunteers in canvassing the area to find Keaton. Supplies will be provided at the police station for anyone interested in spreading information about Keaton’s disappearance. Sara Powers – A 16-year-old is safe after she was found in an older man’s Dearborn Heights apartment The teen was found in an apartment at Warren and Inkster on Wednesday Tips from the community led investigators to the apartment “It’s an amazing day for us,” Dearborn Heights Police Chief Ahmed Haidar said in an interview with Local 4 “We had a lot of partners involved that came in and assisted us We are going to complete a SANE (sexual assault nurse exam) kit.” Haidar said a 62-year-old man is in custody but he’s in custody and we plan on doing interviews with him sometime later on today we will submit a warrant to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office,” said Haidar The chief also said they’re going to continue to investigate everything else they learned during this investigation “Everything that’s been brought to light to us and as soon as we get really good information and there’s enough to submit a warrant on these individuals we will be submitting warrants,” said Haidar A police press conference is scheduled for Thursday The 16-year-old’s family is relieved that she’s safe because they said they didn’t know that she had been missing until a few days later “Them saying that their heart goes out to me and my family “They didn’t call me when she first went missing.” The 16-year-old left Vista Maria on March 14 and was last seen on March 17 on gas station surveillance near the area of Beech Daly and Joy Road before she was found As police investigated her disappearance, they revealed that the department had received hundreds of calls involving Vista Maria in the past year we’ve had 368 calls for service at that location,” Haidar said Our officers have used force in some cases and we’ve seen injuries ranging from fingers to backs and ankles Police also said there are two active sexual assault investigations involving two teen residents and a man who used to work at Vista Maria Note: We are not naming the teen online or using photos of her that haven’t been blurred now that she has been found. Samantha Sayles WAYNE COUNTY – Dearborn Heights police are raising serious concerns about the ongoing challenges at the Vista Maria facility for vulnerable youth where 16-year-old missing teen Tasia Keaton reportedly ran from Local 4 is told law enforcement has responded to a growing number of calls in recent years and there are two active investigations regarding allegations of inappropriate behavior by a staff member Previous coverage: Search for Tasia Keaton: Dearborn Heights police seeking volunteers finding missing teen “In 2024 alone, we’ve had 368 calls for service at that location,” Chief Haidar said. “These include assault and battery, fights, staff being assaulted, and juveniles out of control. Our officers have used force in some cases, and we’ve seen injuries ranging from fingers to backs and ankles. It’s a major drain on our manpower.” The chief noted a disturbing trend over the past few years. “I really don’t know why it’s gotten worse, but it could be staffing issues or hiring unqualified, untrained individuals. I understand they might be taking on more than they can handle,” he said. While police and federal agencies are working around the clock to find Tasia, sources say Dearborn Heights Police and Child Protective Services are investigating more troubling allegations involving a former staff member of the facility. “We received tips about a male staff member potentially involved with juvenile residents,” Chief Haidar confirmed. “There’s a significant age difference, and we’re looking into possible assault.” In addition to the local investigation, a separate jurisdiction is pursuing another case involving another teenage resident and the same former staff member. Sources tell Local 4 the staff member was terminated after the facility discovered video of the male staff member picking up one of the teenage female residents in his own vehicle. Later, allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior surfaced, according to police. The department believes Tasia may have been one of the victims. “We need to get Tasia back, not just for her safety, but to speak with her about what happened, Chief Haidar said. “If these allegations are true, we will seek a warrant and make sure that individual is held accountable.” Chief Haidar also said the public’s response has helped in their search. “We’ve gotten tips that are leading us in the right direction. Hopefully, within the next 48 hours, we’ll have something solid,” he said. “Crime Stoppers tips are amazing. You can be anonymous. Don’t think your tip isn’t worth calling in. Call. Every tip matters.” At Vista Maria, the safety and well-being of the youth and families we serve is our top priority. We alerted police immediately on March 14 when Tasia Keaton left our property and initiated the search for her. We have been working with law enforcement ever since to help ensure her safe return. Our hearts go out to her aunt and the rest of her family during this difficult time. Vista Maria has a 142-year history of providing trauma-informed care, mental health stabilization, foster care services, and education for youth who have experienced trauma. Anyone with information about this case should contact Dearborn Heights Police at 313-277-6770, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP, or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. I was expecting it to be like a middle schooler,” says Alishia Boyle were stunned to learn the threats against their daughter’s school were far more serious than they initially thought Twenty-five-year-old Andrew Bays is accused of threatening to use a firearm to commit an act of violence against the Howe School in Dearborn Heights He’s now facing a pair of felonies—each carrying a max penalty of a decade in prison “As a trained investigator or just somebody being reasonable the things being said were highly inappropriate and clearly dangerous to even hear that kind of act being contemplated,” said Paul Vanderplow Dearborn Heights Police Department Director of Support Services Police say a partner law enforcement agency tipped them off Monday night to Bays’ alleged threats Investigators secured a warrant the next morning and had Bays in handcuffs within hours some other indicia that leaves us to believe that some forethought was put into this,” Vanderplow said and this is the first time I’m ever hearing about this type of thing in this area,” Louis Thornton said Thornton lives across the street from Bays on the 5000 block of Pardee in Dearborn Heights There’s another elementary school a stone’s throw away from their homes “To have someone with that type of mentality around all of these little kids It’s just kinda sad that that’s the way the world is That’s the kinda thing you gotta worry about,” David Boyle it’s unclear why the Howe school was allegedly targeted The school director reassured parents in a letter Thursday (WXYZ) — Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi has been selected to be the U.S President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday WATCH: 7 News Detroit's Simon Shaykhet interviews Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi Bazzi was among leaders in metro Detroit who endorsed Trump's 2024 presidential campaign Bazzi spoke during one of Trump's campaign visits to Novi in October 7 News Detroit anchor Simon Shaykhet spoke with Bazzi in his office where he said his experience led to his appointment Bazzi also says the two did not speak about an appointment when he appeared with Trump at his rally I didn’t like what was going on to this country,” he said this will not be Bazzi's first time in Tunisia a country he visited while on diplomatic missions as part of the city council On Friday, Trump picked Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib to be the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait (WXYZ) — A decision from the city of Dearborn Heights' mayor has people up in arms over the direction of the Police Department and the state of public safety we have no leadership," said one resident at last night's special city council meeting We're paying taxes and we are not represented." The issue stems from the alleged demotion of the city's interim police chief A messy situation developing in Dearborn Heights Many on the inside are basically describing what's happening as a symptom of the dysfunction coming from Mayor Bill Bazzi a T-shirt with the words 'I can't talk about it' sat in Bazzi's empty chair But residents wanted to talk about the growing controversy within the city's police department Bazzi recently appointed Hussein Farhat to Interim Police Chief 30-year police veteran who was promoted from his previous role as Deputy Police Chief earlier this month Bazzi suddenly demoted Farhat on Monday and replaced him with Paul Vanderplow he said Vanderplow's first order of business just two after his promotion was to launch an investigation on Farhat on administrative leave at the beginning of January He also says Vanderplow even became insubordinate with him Farhat's email further asserts that he approached Mayor Bazzi for an investigation but said the Mayor refused to hold Vanderplow accountable and other city employees voiced their support for Farhat during last night's city council meeting and he should be re0instated immediately as the Chief of Police," said Zouher Hak "My son has friends who work for the Police Department and everyone loves and respects you," Angela Venegas said of Farhat "Know that if you gave those officers the dignity and respect that you gave me when we talked this summer you have made a police department and police much better and that is something Mayor Bazzi can never take from you Mayor Bazzi responded to last night's meeting on Facebook He basically says that he never demoted Farhat "our city deserves a leader who is committed to maintaining safety and upholding the values of our community." – The grandfather of 16-year-old Tasia Keaton is speaking out as the search for the missing teen continues Tasia Keaton reportedly ran away from Vista Maria a Dearborn Heights facility for vulnerable youth She was last seen on March 17 on gas station surveillance near Beech Daly and Joy Road Dearborn Heights police and other agencies believe Keaton may be in danger The teen has a history of being sexually abused and trafficked and authorities think she could be in a similar situation right now The facility has allegedly not been forthcoming with providing information and personal property that would have helped investigators on Keaton’s case “I’m very angry and upset about it,” said Terry Mansell all I want is my granddaughter to come back safely then there’s a reason — there’s something they don’t want no one to find.” The grandfather said he found it controlling that the staff at the facility would listen to their phone calls “They listen to everything — your conversations and my granddaughter could not tell me these things were happening because they wouldn’t let her tell,” Mansell said Keaton’s disappearance has also prompted former residents to speak out about the alleged conditions and abuse they experienced at Vista Maria who was forced to stay at Vista Maria from July of 2020 to May of 2021 told Local 4 that allegations of physical and sexual abuse went on for years The resident said that during her time at the facility She recalled one encounter and said,“ I remember I was writing in my room… and I got tackled like almost into a straddle position And I just remember with my hands pinned above my head The former resident also recalled how one staff member reacted after another girl was upset by a phone call with her mother and this guy just grabbed her by her ponytail to the ground and then looked at all of us sitting across from her and walked away,” she said The resident said another male staff member used to come to work under the influence and would pick up girls on home visits and engage in intercourse with them this former resident also spoke of an abandoned structure called Donna Maria which staff members used as a way to punish the girls for “misbehaving” and to keep them from running away “My hands were turning blue because all I got was a blanket,” the resident said about being forced to stay in this punishment room there was nothing in that building,” she said This abuse with staff members allegedly went on the entire time she was at Vista Maria and the resident hopes that the state investigates the conditions of the facility “Hire staff with a background in behavioral issues Hire people that know what they’re doing instead of random strangers.” “This place is literally a living hell for the employees and the children,” one former Vista Maria staff member said A current employee said the way staff members are trained doesn’t properly serve the girls “How they are training us to interact with these kids and what we’re supposed to do with these kids does not serve them anything,” the current employee said “It’s more so a mental health facility or a lock up — a mini lock up than it is a residential to help these youth get back into the environment.” Read more -- ‘A horror show’: Employees expose alleged abuse, neglect at Vista Maria following teen’s disappearance Right now, there are two open investigations involving sexual contact between a former male staff member and two teen residents within the last several months, with one of the residents allegedly being Tasia Keaton. “We need to get Tasia back, not just for her safety, but to speak with her about what happened,” Dearborn Heights Police Chief Ahmed Haidar said. “If these allegations are true, we will seek a warrant and make sure that individual is held accountable.” Local 4 reached out to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services last week, and again on Monday, April 21, 2025. We’re also waiting for another response from Vista Maria. Here’s the statement the facility released on April 17, 2025: “At Vista Maria, the safety and well-being of the youth and families we serve is our top priority. We alerted police immediately on March 14 when Tasia Keaton left our property and initiated the search for her. We have been working with law enforcement ever since to help ensure her safe return. Our hearts go out to her aunt and the rest of her family during this difficult time. Vista Maria has a 142-year history of providing trauma-informed care, mental health stabilization, foster care services, and education for youth who have experienced trauma." Anyone with information about this case should contact Dearborn Heights Police at 313-277-6770, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP, or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678." Police said they have received tips that have led them in the right direction, but asked for the community’s assistance as they continue to search for Keaton. “Don’t think your tip isn’t worth calling in,” said Haider. “Call. Every tip matters.” As the search for 16-year-old Tasia Keaton continues a former resident is speaking out about the alleged abuse she experienced during her time at a Dearborn Heights facility for vulnerable youth After Local 4 learned Dearborn Heights Police made 368 runs to the Vista Maria facility in just 2024 alone and dozens more allegations made by former and current residents and former and current staff said allegations of physical and sexual abuse “go back years,” with multiple employees I’d say cruel punishment,” the former resident told Local 4 on Monday “I went through a lot of [inappropriate] restraints I remember I was writing in my room… and I got tackled like almost into a straddle position Read more -- Missing Tasia Keaton: Here’s everything we know as the search for the 16-year-old continues The former resident also described an incident involving another girl and a male staff member after she got upset on a phone call with her mother. “She got upset, slammed the phone down, and this guy just grabbed her by her ponytail to the ground, and then looked at all of us sitting across from her and walked away,” she said. “It was really scary. I remember his face, his whole demeanor, everything, still to this day.” She referenced another male staff member during her time there: “He used to pick up girls on home visits, and they engaged in intercourse and stuff. I know he used to come to work under the influence and smoke in front of us,” she said. She also reported disturbing conditions in the facility’s buildings, including an abandoned structure called Donna Maria, used for punishment. “My hands were turning blue, because all I got was a blanket. There was no heat. There was no air, there was nothing in that building,” she said. “Even if the fire alarms went off, the doors could not open.” She stated that girls were placed there “for misbehavior” and to prevent them from running away. “I felt like my humanity was disregarded,” she said. “I’m traumatized. I was really traumatized, and I talk about it in therapy today.” She said she would also like to see the state step in and investigate the conditions, staff and abuse that she said went on “the whole time” she was there. “Shut that place down as soon as possible. Shut it down,” she said. “Hire staff with a background in behavioral issues. Hire people that know what they’re doing instead of random strangers.” There are two open investigations involving sexual contact between a former male staff member and two teen residents within the last several months, with one of the residents allegedly being Tasia Keaton. Keaton reportedly ran away from Vista Maria on March 14. She was last seen on March 17 on gas station surveillance near the area of Beech Daly and Joy Road. Dearborn Heights Police and assisting agencies are deeply concerned that she is in danger, as information has come to light that Keaton, who has a history of being sexually abused and trafficked, may be in a similar situation. And despite multiple credible tips in recent days, authorities have yet to locate her. An $8,000 reward is now being offered for information on Keaton’s disappearance. Sources tell Local 4 the facility has not been forthcoming with personal property and information that would have assisted investigators on the case, and has not been cooperative in disclosing “vital” information in “a timely manner.” Local 4 reached out to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services last week and again on Monday, and we are waiting to hear back. We are also waiting for further response from Vista Maria. Statement from Vista Maria on April 17, 2025: (WXYZ) — Dearborn Heights police are asking the public for any leads or information regarding a missing 16-year-old girl they believe to be in danger Police say that Tasia Keaton left Vista Maria Wade says Tasia's mom died of a cancerous brain tumor and her father is not in the picture “Taisa just had a very troubled past," said Wade said they believe the teen was later picked up by someone WATCH: Dearborn Heights police hold press conference on missing teen they believe she was picked up again and taken to a hotel in Redford and assaulted The chief said she was last seen in the area of Joy Road and Beech Daly; she was reportedly spotted on camera heading southbound on Beech Daly on March 17 They haven't had any footage or contact with her since “We’ve been working around the clock to locate her,” said Chief Haidar.  about 5’2” and 130 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.  The chief said they are looking for any information or new leads in this case we just want to put this out there to the public … so we can develop more tips more information,” said Chief Haidar.  Multiple departments have assisted in the investigation A $5,500 reward is being offered for any tips that lead to her whereabouts.  please contact the Dearborn Heights Police Department at 313-277-6770 (WXYZ) — Dearborn Police say thieves went inside Telegraph Pharmacy and stole thousands of dollars of weight loss drugs Surveillance video taken from outside of Telegraph Pharmacy early Saturday morning shows the thieves breaking into the store You can see at least four people go inside of the pharmacy and “There has been a rash of break-ins into pharmacies,” said Lieutenant Mike York of Dearborn Police Dearborn Police say the thieves got away with $15,000 of weight loss drugs and it appears they were targeting the Ozempic medication Mike York says they were able to catch one of the suspects because he was wearing a GPS tether “It was confirmed by watching the surveillance video that the subject was wearing a tether So our detective bureau found out tether locations in the area and we were able to track the suspect down,” said York The other suspects in the robbery haven’t been caught yet and they are also on Dearborn Heights police’s radar “We had a group of individuals who thought they had a softer target in a pharmacy over in Dearborn Heights,” said Paul Vanderplow Paul Vanderplow with Dearborn Heights Police says the same group that broke into the pharmacy in Dearborn also attempted to steal weight loss drugs from Superior Care Pharmacy in Dearborn Heights but was unsuccessful “Why do you think thieves are targeting pharmacies to get Ozempic or weight loss drugs?” Tiarra Braddock asked People are utilizing this drug to stay healthy to get fit… and it’s become a high demand item and we .. you have ingredients for a black or grey market,” said Vanderplow a bariatric surgeon from DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital about people taking weight loss drugs that come from the black market “Some of the side effects can be GI side effects Movitz says you need to consult with your doctor before trying that medication “There are important risks of these medications and these things should be discussed,” Dr police say pharmacies should be on high alert as these thieves are still out there A Dearborn Heights man accused of threatening a school on social media has been charged was arraigned Thursday in 20th District Court in Dearborn Heights He is charged with making an intentional threat to commit an act of violence against a school A judge set his bond at $500,000 and scheduled Bays' next court hearing for March 19 he faces up to 10 years in prison for making a threat to commit violence against a school and up to 10 years for using a computer to commit a crime Court officials said Friday that Bays does not yet have an attorney representing him Dearborn Heights police said they received last weekend information from another law enforcement agency about threats on social media against a Dearborn Heights school Detectives investigated and obtained a search warrant for the home of a suspect in the 5000 block of Pardee Avenue near Van Born Road and Monroe Street Officers found multiple firearms in the home as well as "indications of threatening ideology," police reported Authorities said they then arrested Bays at his home The incident is the latest threat against a school in the state Earlier this week, schools in Grosse Ile and Lake Orion were the targets of threats On Monday, a Michigan State University student from Metro Detroit was charged for allegedly posting a threat against the school on social media WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – Officials are asking for help finding a missing teen from Dearborn Heights. Tasia Keaton went missing in Dearborn Heights on March 14, 2025. She is described to be 5 feet tall, weighs 130 pounds and has brown eyes and brown hair. Authorities believe Keaton may stay in the local area or travel to surrounding cities. Anyone with information about Keaton or her disappearance is asked to call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Dearborn Heights Police Department at 1-313-277-6770. Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. A Dearborn Heights teen was killed in a suspected road rage-fueled shooting on Friday night along the border of Dearborn and Detroit, Dearborn police said Saturday. Dearborn police are investigating the incident. In a press release, they said the 19-year-old female driver was shot and killed at approximately 9:45 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Tireman Avenue and West Morrow Circle. Dearborn police said they have three "persons of interest" in custody. They are urging the public to provide additional information relevant to the incident. Police believe the shooting followed "a road rage situation" that took place earlier near Warren Avenue and the Southfield Freeway in Detroit. The driver of a 2015 white Chrysler 200 cut off the teen victim, who was driving a 2018 black Jeep Grand Cherokee. The teen followed the driver of the Chrysler onto Tireman and Southfield Service Drive. Police said they believe she was trying to get the Chrysler 200's license plate number. When the vehicles reached the intersection of Tireman and West Morrow Circle, the driver of the Chrysler 200 turned north onto Cheyenne Street "and fired several gunshots at the victim's vehicle," Dearborn police said. "One of the bullets entered the victim's vehicle through the windshield, fatally striking the driver," police said. The teen had died by the time police arrived. There were two female passengers in the victim's vehicle who were physically unharmed following the incident.  "We are shocked and disturbed by this completely senseless act of violence that has shattered our community," Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin said. "Dearborn Police will continue to investigate this horrific incident and bring the suspected perpetrators to justice. We urge those with information about this crime to come forward." People with information can contact the Dearborn Police Department at 313-943-2225. Anonymous tips may be submitted through CrimeStoppers by calling 1-800-SPEAKUP. DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — A troubling snap of arctic air has left water main breaks throughout metro Detroit including in Dearborn Heights. On Wednesday, I visited the area of Monroe north of Van Born where I saw vehicles frozen solid in ice. I also asked city leaders what's being done to help tackle the problem. View this post on Instagram A post shared by WXYZ Detroit Channel 7 (@wxyzdetroit) “Have you seen cars covered in ice like that?" I asked Cheryl Fritz I found homeowners like Fritz struggling with vehicles that have been blanketed in ice The city of Dearborn Heights said their crews have been battling numerous water main breaks at the worst time Related Video: Check out the vehicles covered in ice below “We’re fixing them as quickly as they can be identified and we’re having two to three a night right now," Paul VanderPlow a Chevy SUV and a Ford pickup truck appeared literally stuck in the ice VanderPlow oversees operations for the city and said they'll be freeing the vehicles with heavy equipment Their goal is to get them running again without any issues “We’re chipping them out and working with our tow company to have them warmed up This is why the mayor has been so adamant about revamping our infrastructure and water mains," he said Related Video: Why do we see more water main breaks in the winter With temps expected to rise later this week Fritz is hoping for brighter days and warmer feelings She's thankful for the city helping and hoping Mother Nature puts the brakes on the water main breaks “We talked to the director and they’re going to help which I appreciate a whole lot," Fritz said The city said below-freezing temperatures can impact the speed of repairs but they continue to work around the clock Related Video: Water main break turns streets into ice on Detroit's west side The Michigan Department of Transportation is hosting two public meetings to discuss the “Restore 94 project” that will impact the cities of Romulus on March 27 in the Allen Park Department of Public Services conference room The second meeting will be held the same day from 4 to 6 p.m at the Romulus Public Library in the Community Room The open house-style meetings will have exhibits displaying project locations proposed detours and the proposed extension of the noise berm located east of the I-94 ramp at Pelham Road in Allen Park Staff and contractors from MDOT will be on hand to answer questions and share project details Also invited to attend are community stakeholders or other assistance for effective participation should contact Orlando Curry at 517-241-7462 or CurryO [at] Michigan.gov preferably at least five business days prior to the meeting Forms are located on the Title VI webpage The Restore 94 project includes road and bridge work along 12.7 miles of I-94 from east of I-275 to west of Michigan Avenue Work on this $353 million investment is expected to begin in early 2026 A noise study analyzed the entire project area for noise impacts and potential noise mitigation The draft noise report and information on MDOT’s noise abatement program are available on MDOT’s website at Michigan.gov/Noise MDOT is seeking the public’s input on the draft noise report Provide your input on the draft noise report by April 9 MasoudL [at] Michigan.gov or by calling 517- 241-7575    DEARBORN HEIGHTS — After a nearly six-hour City Council meeting on Jan Mayor Bill Bazzi appointed a new police chief the city’s fourth in just under three years Bazzi confirmed in a press release that Officer Ahmed Haider will assume command of the Dearborn Heights Police Department as the acting chief while the city conducts its nationally advertised search for a permanent chief At the beginning of December 2024, a press release from the city stated that Deputy Chief Hussein Farhat was being appointed interim police chief effective on Jan who placed a t-shirt on Bazzi’s seat reading read an email from Farhat directed to the city’s human resources director claiming “retaliation” and that he had placed Paul Vanderplow on an administrative leave due to creating a hostile work environment bullying and intimidating his fellow officers and being insubordinate Vanderplow replaced Farhat in the role and then launched an investigation into Farhat two days later Mayor Bill Bazzi’s empty seat with a shirt placed by Councilman Hassan Saab reading “I Can’t Talk About It” Photo: Hassan Saab The moves are in direct violation of the Dearborn Heights Police Supervisors’ Association contract and Act 78 of the Police and Fire Service Commission “Deputy chief is a position that’s within our contract and within our union and it has to come from within the union,” Szopko said Szopko said Farhat was demoted and Vanderplow was moved to a new position called director/interim police commission and the unions filed grievances and unlawful labor practice claims against Bazzi Supervisors Union President Nick Szopko speaks at the City Council meeting he’s denying our employees equal employment opportunities for advancement within the department,” he said “Employees have worked their entire careers to be promoted to these positions.” Szopko also said that before Bazzi took office 80 officers were sworn in and 40 have since left through resignation Councilman Hassan Ahmad told The Arab American News that he is disappointed and concerned with the recent decisions I am troubled by the mayor’s failure to move forward with swearing in interim Chief Farhat despite his demonstrated superior leadership and unity within the police department,” he said “The overwhelming support for Chief Farhat from our police officers and residents is a testament to his exceptional leadership It is unacceptable that the mayor has chosen to place him under investigation I am alarmed by the mayor’s failure to uphold the terms of the police union contract This contract was negotiated and executed in good faith and it is the administration’s legal and ethical responsibility to abide by its terms.” Ahmad said that he also urges Bazzi to publicly take immediate action to comply with the contract and to demonstrate a genuine commitment to the police officers fair treatment and the trust of the administration,” he said “It is our responsibility as leaders to ensure that they receive it I called on the mayor to fulfill the obligations of the contract restore trust with our police force and provide the leadership that our community deserves.” who was not at the Council meeting and reportedly has not been in attendance in months told The Arab American News that when a meeting can be conducted professionally he will attend which he reiterated in a press release calling the meeting an “example of the juvenile and unprofessional actions by Council.” “The types of actions we witnessed were at the least a violation of city employees’ personnel rights,” the press release read “The fact that the Council members reviewed an unsubstantiated and yet-to-be investigated complaint by one employee against another then read it into the meeting’s ‘official record’ clearly violates the employee’s due process.” The press release also said there have been more than 20 complaints against police department employees by Council members that have never been handled in this manner which Bazzi said can be verified through a FOIA request and that upon notification of the complaint and prior to the Council meeting the city’s administration started and extended an offering for an external firm to investigate the complaints “For City Council to take this action is reckless and may put the city at further risk in current litigation involving one of the employees,” the release read “These types of actions by council distracts our city from serving the residents and interrupts normal city governmental functions.” The position for chief of police is open for applications on the city’s website Dane Kelly Residents in Dearborn Heights faced a challenging morning after waking up to find their vehicles encased in ice. With temperatures expected to stay below freezing for days -- what can even be done to get them out? Officials with Dearborn Heights spent much of Wednesday, Jan. 22, digging, salting and removing vehicles from where they were frozen in place on Monroe Street. Residents woke up to find several vehicles to be trapped in thick layers of ice. A crew was out earlier in the morning working on a water main break and pushing water off the street. Due to the cold temperatures, the water was freezing almost immediately on the vehicles. No defroster or ice scraper could help free the vehicles. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Local 4 News Detroit (@local4news) Dearborn Heights Director of Public Safety Paul Vanderplow called them “car-cicles.” Due to the severity of the ice, several vehicles were hauled off to a garage to thaw. “We have means by which we can actually have a tow to one of our facilities warm it up and get them back on the road,” Vanderplow said. Resident Cheryl Fritz was worried the ice would damage the vehicles or that they’d be trapped until spring. “Thank you so so much. Job well done,” Fritz said. “Thank you, Dearborn Heights, you finally pulled through!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Local 4 News Detroit (@local4news) Here is link to recording of the event Join the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday January 16 at Park Place Caterers for its annual A Tale of Our Cities luncheon presented by Comcast featuring Mayor Abdullah H Hear what is new in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights in 2025 Doors open at 11:30 am with plated chicken (vegetarian option available upon request) and program beginning at noon Tickets are $35.00 for Chamber Members & $45.00 for Prospective Chamber Members For tickets and information, visit www.dearbornareachamber.org DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – A Dearborn Heights neighborhood is once again preparing to flood Homes surrounding the creek have fallen victim to severe flooding during heavy rains for decades With heavy rain forecast for Wednesday (April 2) Local 4 talked with neighbors about how they prepare for possible flooding Sharon Shank has resorted to flood insurance after having significant flooding in her basement everything was damaged last time (and) we had to replace everything,” Shank said Dawn Wierciak clears out her basement and hopes for the best However, residents don’t expect a solution anytime soon. “We’ve been promised for 22 years that they were doing things. They don’t do nothing,” Shank said. Jacqueline Francis is an award-winning journalist who joined the WDIV team in September 2022. Prior to Local 4, she reported for the NBC affiliate in West Michigan. When she’s not on the job, Jacqueline enjoys taking advantage of all the wonders Michigan has to offer, from ski trips up north to beach days with her dog, Ace. President Donald Trump has appointed Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi as U.S Bazzi took to Facebook on Tuesday (March 11) to thank Trump while showing his appreciation for the position I am honored and appreciate President Donald Trump’s appointment to serve as U.S Among the distinct countries I have visited over the years I hold a great affinity to Tunisia and its honorable parliament members—along with the people I met while touring orphanages and a multitude of companies which distinguish the country’s rising presence in the region My purpose is to continue serving in capacities which make an impact which benefit our Country and enhance global relations.” Trump said Bazzi worked hard during the 2024 presidential election to help his administration secure his seat at the White House “I am pleased to announce that Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi will be the next United States Ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia Marine who honorably served our country for 21 years Bazzi also worked at Boeing as a quality manager at Ford Motor Company as a product development engineer Bazzi took an early retirement to serve his city as mayor of Dearborn Heights Bazzi worked hard during the 2024 presidential election to help us secure our historic victory and I look forward to seeing the great things he will accomplish for our nation Bazzi became Trump’s second Arab American mayor in Metro Detroit to be nominated for an ambassadorship as on Friday --> Trump selects Hamtramck mayor to be US ambassador to Kuwait Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service. Police are investigating a shooting in Dearborn Heights that took place on Tuesday morning The shooting happened in the area of Van Born and Gulley – which is between Telegraph and Beech Daly A business owner along the stretch said when he arrived for work around 9:30 a.m. Video from the scene showed shell casings all over the ground and a green Chevy Equinox covered with bullet holes We do have calls out to police to learn more information and we'll keep you updated as we learn more