The 10 Most Shocking Things That Happened In Detroit This Week

One of the most eye-catching news stories to come out of Detroit this week was made popular for all of the wrong reasons. A real estate agency owned by Detroit tycoon Dan Gilbert put up an ad that has everyone talking. The agency, BedRock Detroit, featured an ad around the city that showed a picture of civilians with the phrase "See Detroit like we do". The problem? Black people make up over 80% of Detroit's population and the ad showcased nothing but white people. Many residents pointed out that they feared this is another major step forward in gentrifying the city. Gilbert issued an apology this week but unfortunately it left next to no one feeling comforted or any better about the situation.

Bound for the Motor City, over $2 million worth of marijuana was discovered by an employee at the Ford Rail Distribution Facility in Woodhaven. Holding a total of 227 pounds of pot, the vehicles had been imported from Mexico and were quickly reported to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security after the discovery was made. The drugs were hidden inside of the vehicles that were bound for Detroit, with officials examining two hundred cars at the facility.

The search remains ongoing after a 17-year old boy was reportedly kidnapped by three men from his home on Detroit's West Side. Jaylon Wilson was taken at roughly 12:30PM on Tuesday in the 7300 block of Westwood Street. Neighbors in the area called police after they said they witnessed unusual activity when a silver car pulled up to the residence and three men ran inside of the house, carrying Wilson out of his home while he was kicking and fighting the men. While it is still unknown why the men would've taken Wilson, those who saw what happened said the boy was screaming for help.

Those who have any information surrounding the kidnapping are urged to call Detroit police at 313-596-2200.

35-year old Ryan Darrell Fletcher and 23-year old Jacob Jesse Rose were charged with assault with intent to commit murder this week after attacking a 70-year old man and his dog. The retired police officer and his dog were listening to the radio outside of a bar in Wayne when the two men beat and stabbed the man, while also hurling his dog at his vehicle. The man was found unconscious by police officers. His son has reported that he is expected to be in the hospital for at least a week and is in a lot of pain.

Just outside of Detroit in the city of Trenton, an 11-year old boy was visiting his family in the area and tragically drowned in the Detroit River. The boy's body was discovered roughly 40-feet from where he was last seen roughly an hour after the search began. While the entire circumstances surrounding the heartbreaking situation are still known, it is believed that the young boy slipped into the water, with currents moving around 10 miles per hour.

The popular club located in Greektown is now under fire as a woman claims the owner of Exodus not only spit on her, but bit her as well. 23-year old Alisia Francavilla was at the club celebrating her birthday with her twin sister when she attempted to use the bathroom after an employee told her she could, only to have the owner tell her she was not allowed to. After attempting to use the bathroom Francavilla says several bouncers began to violently remove her from the club when the owner took it upon himself to spit in her face, bit her hand and then pushed her down the club's stairwell. Even though the victim has footage of the incident and photos of the bite mark, the club has stated that they're certain their staff followed all protocol and that no violence was used against the young woman.

Apparently when it comes to 34-year old Justin Joseph Pruneau, the apple fell quite far from the family tree. Son of a River Rouge City councilman, Pruneau has been charged with the murder of a man that was believed to be his drug dealer. Police believe that Pruneau rode his bike to 59-year old Robert Cook's house while toting a rifle and shot Cook. The 59-year old was taken to a local hospital but died shortly after arriving.

Like something out of an old episode of Looney Tunes, sledgehammer wielding thieves were caught attempting to break into a cellphone store on the West Side of Detroit. Recently all across the city two men have been suspected of attempting to break into businesses by using a sledgehammer, and this week one of the men was apprehended. Anyone with more information surrounding these robberies are urged to call the Detroit Police.

Jon Jon's Topless Bar in northwest Warren is now being turned into a Dairy Queen after the business has suffered longtime legal battles with the city. For years the business has been controversial not only because of its lack of clothing inside, but because of its issues with liquor licenses and local feuds. Now the grim looking building is getting a shocking makeover and will be turned into a Dairy Queen! From milk jugs to milkshakes, locals are excited to see what will come of the new business.

This week, a total of 16 Muslims working in Warren filed a complaint against their employer after they were forced to choose between their work and their religion. The Muslims working at the Brose Jefferson facility in Warren had requested that their meal break be changed to 9PM instead of their usual time at 7PM, due to the fact that during Ramadan they practice fasting from sunrise through sunset. Unfortunately the machine operators were denied their request, leaving them to choose between their religion and their jobs.