WOODHAVEN (WWJ) – Woodhaven Police have identified the man who was shot to death by officers investigating a shoplifting complaint at WalMart Tuesday night.
Police said 39-year old Charles Brown Jr. of Lincoln Park wouldn’t drop a screwdriver and drove his stolen car at officers who were trying to stop him.
The shooting happened in the parking lot of the Walmart store at Allen and West roads just before 8 p.m.
Police Chief Gordon Chretien said the store’s loss prevention department called police as a man and woman suspected of shoplifting were leaving the store.
Upon arrival, Chretien said officers were confronted by Brown who was acting as if he was going to use a screwdriver as a weapon.
Chretien said officers ordered Brown to drop the screwdriver, at which time he jumped into a vehicle, put it in reverse and struck a patrol unit in an attempt to run over one of the officers.
After striking the cruiser, Brown put the vehicle in drive and allegedly tried to run over a second officer. Chretien said that’s when officers fired their weapons, shooting out the back window of the car and striking the suspect.
Police said Brown was killed at the scene.
WWJ Tipster “Tara” said the suspect’s car, a red sedan, was parked near the store’s pharmacy drive-thru, facing the wrong direction.
The female accomplice briefly escaped, but was apprehended a short time later at a nearby Kroger store, according to police. She is now in police custody.
No one in either store was hurt.
The woman remains in custody.
Michigan State Police are investigating to determine if police did anything wrong.