Caught in the act; Grand Lake man apprehends teen in his home
by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor
What happened to Dave and Claire Storms at their north Grand Lake home sounded like something right out of Paul Harvey’s ?For what it’s worth,? segment. The legendary newscaster ends many of his “News and Comment” programs with a story about a dumb criminal. It always seems the strange news stories happen in other communities — not here. In the early morning hours last Friday, one of those Paul Harvey stories occurred right here in Presque Isle County, as 73-year-old Dave Storms found a 16-year-old youth stealing money from a wallet in his own bathroom. Storms pulled a gun on the teen and told him to “sit on the pot” until the authorities arrived. Storms? actions may have put an end to what has been a string of bold breakings and enterings in the area. Even with pleas from the youngster to let him go, Dave held his ground until sheriff’s deputies arrived.
THE COUPLE had been sleeping when Claire heard a noise that sounded like someone tripping over furniture, or had fallen down. Dave wears a hearing aid, so she had to give him a few extra nudges on his head. “A few minutes later, and this was already after I had waken him up, (the noise) did it again,” said Claire. “I said, ‘did you hear that.’ ” “Hear what?” Dave replied. Even though Claire had heard several noises recently, Dave still grabbed a handgun in his room and went to investigate. Dave said crackling wood in the fireplace has sent him on “wild goose chases.” Dave walked out of the room on the main floor and turned a light on to an upstairs loft, where the couple thought the noises were coming from. “I didn?t see anything,” said Dave. He walked forward and to his left passed the kitchen area, to a hallway that leads to Dave’s gun/TV room. Between Dave and the end of the hallway is a doorway leading to a bathroom. “He’s standing in the bathroom with a mask pulled up to his eyes,” said Dave. The distance between them was less than four feet. “Just his eyes were showing,” said Dave, of the bandana-donned intruder. ?I put the gun on him real quick and I said ‘back up and sit on the pot.? He backed up and sat down. I said, ?Claire, I got him, call 9-1-1.? The young man urged Storms not shoot him. ? ?Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! I haven’t taken anything! I’ll just walk out, just don’t shot!? ?
THE CALL was received Presque Isle central dispatch at 2:14 a.m. Claire was a little rattled and told the dispatcher her husband is 71, when he is 73. Storms said there was plenty of time for the burglar to run away as he turned the lights on and started searching for the noise. The suspect, who is a local 16-year-old from the Presque Isle area, was not believed to be on drugs or under the influence of alcohol, according to authorities. Storms said he didn?t believe it took deputies more than eight minutes to get there. During that time, Dave said the unwanted visitor asked to take off his bandana because he was sweating. The Army veteran told him to ?sweat.? Eventually, Storms let him pull it down, revealing his face. ?I had never seen him before,? said Dave.
It is believed the teen damaged a screen to climb through a window in the garage where he stole a cell phone. Since the door to the house was bolted shut, the suspect used a long screwdriver to pry open part of the window seal to gain entry. He then is believed to have walked through the gun/TV room and into a bathroom where he took cash from the wallet. Money and other valuables were found on him later when deputies frisked the subject. He now faces charges in juvenile court. Storms heard comments from other people in the community wondering if he would face charges himself for pointing a gun at the teen.
?If it was Washington, D.C., I would be in trouble,? said Storms, who just received a lifetime membership to the National Rifle Association. ?You better vote for people who believe in the Second Amendment and our right to bear arms, and our right to bear arms and defend yourself, or wherever you might be.? LEONARD ZIELINSKI lives on Grand Point Road, about a mile south of Storms, and believes the same suspect entered his lakefront cottage and may have even walked by him while he was sleeping on the couch. Missing was cash and a cell phone. Leonard and his wife both feel ?absolutely violated.? Leonard says his wife makes extra efforts to make sure the doors and windows are locked on their future permanent retirement home.
?You shouldn’t have to do that,? said Zielinski. ?I strongly agree with Dave on the Second Amendment. I don’t think you should have to have a permit to carry one. This is a prime example of why it is a necessity.? Storms has had his share of unwanted excitement the last 18 months. A few months ago, he was on a plane with his brother in Wisconsin that was forced to land on a soccer field when the engine quit. A little more than a year before, the owner of Cedar Log and Lumber, watched his Millersburg business ravaged in a massive blaze. Storms and his employees have persevered and continue to rebuild.
Sheriff?s deputies continue their investigation of the B & E?s of numerous cottages in the area this month, Anyone who resides in the Grand Lake area and has been broken into, is urged to contact the sheriff?s department. The subject will be judicated as a minor in Alpena County.