Manhunt underway for Michigan cop after suspect shoots and kills officer

By Myesha Johnson
The Detroit News

MELVINDALE, Michigan – A Melvindale police officer was shot and killed Sunday morning and a manhunt for a suspect is underway, police said.

The Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge of Michigan identified the officer as Mohamed Said, as did the Dearborn police chief on social media on Sunday. The Melvindale police chief declined to release the officer’s name “out of respect for his family.”

The city’s police chief said 44-year-old Michael Lopez was responsible for the incident, which occurred near a car wash.

He has tattoos and was last seen shirtless on a green bicycle. According to the post, he is considered armed and dangerous.

“If you see this suspect or anyone who looks very similar to him, please do not approach or confront him,” police said. “Call 911 immediately and notify police. If you have any information about this suspect, please contact Melvindale Police.”

A reward of $20,000 is being offered for information leading to the suspect’s whereabouts, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced on X on Sunday evening.

The Santa Monica Police Department drone is part of a first responder program in which a sworn pilot flies the drone and can help Emergency services on site

Mental health

“I don’t think much attention is paid to the fact that we are human beings too and that the job is stressful and has been for a decade,” said Spanish Fort Police Chief John Barber.

A dozen people were arrested and 33 cars towed during a multi-day mission aimed at street takeovers, but the incidents still occur almost every weekend, Lt. Chadd Stensgaard said.

Baldwin’s legal team has signaled its intention to sue a Santa Fe sheriff and prosecutor after it was revealed that they withheld evidence during his trial.

Said recently graduated from the Wayne County Regional Police Academy, said Melvindale Police Chief Robert Kennaley. He said the department sponsored him and “it’s the only department” he’s worked in.

“This is an officer who has put his heart and soul into this job and his community, and it is outrageous that something like this happened,” Kennaley said.

During the course of the afternoon, people who described themselves as relatives or acquaintances of the officer came to the crime scene. Some greeted the officers with hugs.

Two people at the scene told The Detroit News that the police officer killed was a former classmate.

Yousef Said, 24, of Melvindale used to play soccer at Melvindale High School.

Yousef described Said as someone who was passionate about his job and always wanted to become a police officer.

Said was “a very genuine guy,” Yousef said. “He loved what he did … he’s Melvindale’s all-time leading scorer for the soccer team. He loved the sport. He always wanted to be a police officer.”

Another classmate, Saleh Almuraisi of Melvindale, remembers when he and his family came to the country from Yemen.

“He came without any knowledge of English, but then he studied hard, proved himself and became an officer,” said Almuraisi.

Officers from Melvindale, Dearborn and the Michigan State Police spent several hours Sunday near the crime scene at the corner of Schaefer and Raupp streets. Police vehicles blocked access to the streets closest to a business where an officer was shot, according to WXYZ.

A helicopter flew over us and a dog squad was deployed in the neighborhood.

The Rockwood and Gibraltar police departments posted messages about the death on their Facebook pages.

“Please pray for his family and his brothers/sisters in blue,” Rockwood’s post said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Melvindale as one of their officers was killed in the line of duty this morning,” Gibraltar Police said. “We pray for his family and friends and as the situation continues, we pray for all of you.”

The officer is the third to be killed in the line of duty in recent days.

Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Bradley Reckling was shot and killed on June 22 in an alleged ambush while following a car stolen in Madison Heights.

Days later, Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Deputy William Henry Butler Jr. was killed during a traffic stop in Jefferson Township, near Hillsdale.

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