Clinton Township, Michigan

From Mount Clemens’ Macomb Daily of March 23, 2006

Man holds female intruder at gunpoint while wife calls police

A Clinton Township man woke from a deep sleep Wednesday morning to find a woman sitting on his living room couch counting his money.

The man grabbed a loaded handgun and told the woman to freeze. He then ordered her at gunpoint to the ground while his wife called police.

Police charged Chalise Marie Johnson, 32, of Westland, with home invasion. Johnson pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Wednesday in 41B District Court. Bond was set at $10,000 and a preliminary examination is scheduled within 14 days.

Police said the woman has prior arrests in Dearborn for passing bad checks and in the 1990s for possession of illegal drugs, said Clinton Township police Capt. Richard Maierle.

"This is highly unusual that a homeowner would be awakened in the middle of the night only to find someone in his house counting his money," said Maierle. "The homeowner was very surprised."

The incident occurred in the 39000 block of Moravian (near Harrington Road) at 2:20 a.m. The homeowner was in bed when he heard dogs barking, Maierle said.

"He thought he heard someone in his house so he grabbed a handgun," Maierle said. "He left some money on a table before he went to bed and saw this strange woman sitting on his couch counting the money he had on his table."

Maierle said the man told police he may have left his back door unlocked when he went to bed. Police said they don't know how she got to the area.

Township officers searched the area and didn't find anyone waiting for the woman.