Pair Arrested in Berkley, Charged in Royal Oak Home Break-Ins

Two more suspects, who were arrested in Berkley, have been charged in a recent string of home invasions in Royal Oak, bringing to three the number of Southfield residents apprehended in the case.

Scott Overfield, 20, and Jessica Squarcia, 22, both of Southfield, were arrested Friday and arraigned Sunday in 44th District Court, Interim Deputy Chief Gordon Young of the Royal Oak Police Department said today.

Overfield was arraigned on one count of first-degree home invasion, a 20-year felony, and bond was set at $10,000. Squarcia was arraigned on one count of receiving and concealing stolen property over $1,000, a five-year felony, and bond was set at $5,000. Squarcia posted bond and was released from custody, Young said. It was unclear if Overfield was still in the Oakland County Jail.

Last week, Devone Winbush, 21, of Southfield, was charged with second-degree home invasion and attempted home invasion in the same string of home break-ins as the most recent suspects. Wednesday night, Royal Oak police said Winbush and another suspect were spotted carrying pillowcases filled with stolen property after getting a call about a home invasion in progress near 13 Mile Road and Greenfield. Winbush was arrested, but the second suspect escaped, police said. Winbush remains in the Oakland County Jail on $20,000 bond.

"I'm pretty confident we got the three," Young said. "There are no more suspects" in the recent break-ins.

Young said he expects more charges will be added by the end of this week for other victims of home invasions.

How it happened

On Friday at 3:30 p.m., Royal Oak police said they were monitoring the Troy Police Department's radio frequency and overheard a "be on the lookout" call for male and female retail fraud suspects driving a green Oldsmobile. Royal Oak officers said they were aware the retail fraud suspects matched a similar call from Royal Oak for their suspected involvement with Winbush in the string of home invasions in that city.

Royal Oak officers also knew the vehicle in which the suspects were riding was registered to a house in Berkley and notified the Berkley Public Safety Department that the car was possibly tied to a string of break-ins in Royal Oak.

Deputy Director Robert North said the was on alert for the vehicle in which Overfield and Squarcia were riding after the broadcast went out stating the car's occupants were wanted in the retail fraud incident at the Walmart at 15 Mile and Crooks roads in Troy.

The car is not registered under either of the suspects' names, North said.

BPS officers spotted the car and, with the help of Royal Oak Police who blocked potential escape routes, they arrested both suspects in relation to the retail fraud incident, North said.

The pair was detained on Webster, west of Coolidge Highway, he said. They then were turned over to Royal Oak Police, North said.

The two suspects were taken into custody by Royal Oak police for their suspected involvement in the recent home invasions.  

'No time to drop your guard'

Royal Oak Detective Keith Spencer interviewed the suspects and was able to gain admissions linking them to the Royal Oak home invasions. Additionally, Spencer, with the assistance of the Southfield Police Department, conducted a search of the suspects' residence and recovered items taken in the Royal Oak home invasions.

"It was mostly jewelry; there was a jewelry box ... and some electronics," Young said. "There was a five-pack of Oberon (beer), too. ... One of the victims had one and said the rest was missing."

While Young said he was confident Royal Oak has found its suspects for several home invasions, residents in other parts of the city also have reported break-ins and thefts.

"There have been some arrests, but this is no time to drop your guard," Young said.

He cautioned residents to ensure their homes look as if they are occupied by picking up mail and newspapers, for example. "The more lights you can put on the outside to illuminate the areas around the house, the better," Young said.

Residents who have information to report or who notice something unusual in their neighborhood are urged to call the Berkley Public Safety Department at 248-658-3380 or the Huntington Woods Public Safety Department at 248-541-1180.

Berkley Patch editor Leslie Ellis contributed to this report.