Clinton Twp. man charged with unarmed robbery

By CHRISTINA HALL • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • July 25, 2008 A Clinton Township man was arraigned today, accused of stealing $150 from a township hardware store during a robbery. Jarrod Dewayne Brownlee, 42, was ordered held on $7,500 bail on an unarmed robbery charge during arraignment in 41B District Court in Mt. Clemens. He is accused of distracting the owner of Grates Hardware at Crocker and Harper and taking the money and a check from the register just before 2 p.m. Thursday. The owner chased him out of the store. A witness got the license plate number on the robber's vehicle and called police, Capt. Richard Maierle said. Police and Macomb County Sheriff's deputies found Brownlee hiding in a closet at his home about 10 minutes later. The money and check were recovered. Maierle said Brownlee confessed to the crime and was... [read full story]