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The simultaneous chases were among the most unusual police officers had ever experienced, Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer said after the teens were captured.
“I can’t recall when we had two carjackings in simultaneous pursuits going into two cities,” he said.
The suspects, ages 17 and 18, are expected to be charged in 37th District Court in Warren. Dwyer said detectives also are investigating whether they are connected to a string of carjackings in Harper Woods late Tuesday as well as an armed robbery in Madison Heights on Wednesday morning.
Warren police were initially called to investigate a carjacking at St. John’s Health Corporate Services Building on Dequindre just before 6 a.m. Wednesday after a woman said her 2005 Jeep Liberty had been carjacked.
Moments later, a 64-year-old woman reported that her 2008 Chrysler Town & Country was carjacked in the parking lot of CVS Pharmacy in the 25000 block of Ryan, also in Warren. Officers eventually spotted both stolen vehicles in Madison Heights and a chase ensued.
The 17-year-old driver of the Chrysler eventually drove down I-75. He was caught in Hamtramck at Caniff and Dyar. He had an Airsoft gun — commonly used in paintball — that was made to look like a semiautomatic handgun. Dwyer said officers fired six shots at the teen when he drove the vehicle at officers. He was not injured.
Moments later, Michigan State Police reported that they had found the stolen Jeep Liberty, also in Hamtramck, and made an arrest.
Later in the day, Warren police arrested a man in an unrelated attempted carjacking across the street from police headquarters.
“I guess we’re batting 1.000,” Dwyer said. “We’re starting to send a message that if you commit a crime in Warren, you’re likely to be arrested.”
Contact DAN CORTEZ at 586-826-7264 or dcortez@freepress.com.

freep.com

Giant Food Says Customers May Return Stonyfield Organic Fat Free Blueberry Yogurt []
3/30/2008 1:49:04 PM Giant Food, a super markets operator, on Sunday said that following a voluntary recall by Stonyfield Farm, removed from its shelves 6 ounce cups of Stonyfield Organic Fat Free Blueberry Yogurt for the reason that the product may contain plastic and glass fragments.
The product recalled by Stonyfield’s has a UPC code # 0-52159-00044 with product codes printed along the cup bottom, which start with the dates April 13 to 15 and April 25 to 26, 2008.
Giant Food said customers who have purchased the affected products may return them for a full refund.
Herman Miller Signs $0.75 Mln Settlement Pact With New York Attorney General [MLHR]
3/30/2008 1:17:49 PM Zeeland, Michigan-based furniture manufacturer Herman Miller Inc. (MLHR) on March 25, revealed a settlement agreement with the New York Attorney General or NYAG. The settlement relates to an inquiry that began in 2003 over the company’s minimum advertised price program for its home division. While terming the agreement as a pragmatic decision that would help eliminate unnecessary distractions and expenses over the investigation, the company said outside of the agreement, it denied to any wrongdoing.
The inquiry alleged that the division’s program limited retail price competition by barring retailers from advertising furniture at prices below the company’s set price. The investigation was led by the NYAG of the Minimum Advertised Price Program maintained by the Herman Miller for the Home division. The States of Michigan and Illinois also participated in the investigation and settlement.
The company, as per the agreement, would pay $0.75 million, to settle with New York, Michigan and Illinois. The amount had earlier been provided for in the company’s financial statements.
Earlier in mid-March, the company reported a profit of 65 cents per share for its third quarter, which is an increase from 50 cents per share reported for a year-earlier. At the end of the first quarter, the company’s cash & cash equivalents totaled $81.4 million compared to $76.4 million in the year-ago period. The settlement is implemented through a consent decree that was signed by the parties on March 21, 2008 and filed with the United States District Court in New York. The consent decree applies only to Home division and prohibits Herman Miller for the Home from reaching agreements with its retail distributors relating to the Minimum Advertised Price Program until December 31, 2010.

rttnews.com

ROUND-TRIP AIRFARES GO UP, UP AND AWAY: Two of the nation’s biggest airlines boosted round-trip fares by as much as $50 heading into the weekend, raising the stakes in their fight against rapidly rising fuel costs and putting pressure on competitors to follow suit. United Airlines, the second-largest U.S. carrier, led the latest round of increases late Thursday, hours after crude oil prices surged to a record $111 a barrel. Continental Airlines Inc. matched the increases Friday. Two other carriers said they were studying the move. United spokesman Robin Urbanski said the higher fares are based on the length of flights, so trips under 500 miles will cost $4 to $10 more round-trip.
GM RECALLS BUICKS, PONTIACS: General Motors Corp. is recalling 207,542 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix sedans because of a risk they could catch fire, and warned their owners not to park the cars in garages until they are fixed. The automaker said Friday it is recalling the 1997-2003 Buick Regal GS and Grand Prix GTP models with 3.8-liter supercharged V-6 engines. During hard braking, drops of oil can leak from the engine onto the exhaust manifold, and fires can start if the oil gets hot enough, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site. For more information, go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site at www.nhtsa.gov or the GM Web site at www.gm.com.

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By TOM KRISHER – 21 hours ago
DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Corp. says it is recalling more than 207,000 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix sedans because they can develop oil leaks that can cause fires.
GM says the cars are safe to drive, but drivers should not park them in garages or carports.
The automaker said Friday the recall affects 1997 to 2003 Buick Regal GS and Grand Prix GDP models with 3.8-liter supercharged V-6 engines.
GM says oil can leak onto the exhaust manifold if a driver brakes hard. If the oil gets hot enough it can catch fire.
It says the problem has caused 267 fires and six injuries.
The company says owners will be notified when parts are available to fix the problem.

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