Police: Retired Cop Prevents Jewelry Store Robbery

 reports from Aug. 28-Sept. 4 included the following highlight:

Retired cop prevents jewelry store robbery, police say

A retired West Bloomfield Police officer working as security at  Sept. 1 helped prevent a robbery which has lead to one arrest, according to police.

Colby Jermel Whatley, 19, of West Bloomfield, was arrested after a possible attempt to break open a case in the store containing fine watches at about 1:40 p.m. Saturday, according to Lt. Curt Lawson. Whatley is lodged at Oakland County Jail on $5,000 sure surety after being charged with first-degree retail fraud, a five-felony.

Lawson said that Whatley and another man entered the store with a small hammer, wearing gloves, in order to break open a case. The retired officer, whom Lawson did not name, drew a handgun and kept Whatley until police arrived.

Lawson said that the other half of the two-man job remains at-large after escaping from the scene. "We have some leads, but we haven't made an arrest yet," Lawson said.

It was not clear what the motive of the incident was. No one was hurt, added Lawson, who commended the retired officer for his intelligence.

"He was a police officer for more than 30 years. He did a good job of observing that the two had gloves on and he followed them into the store. Then, he observed them putting their shirts up over their heads, to cover their faces and that's when he produced his weapon," Lawson said.

If you have any information about this incident, you can call West Bloomfield Police at (248) 975-9200. For questions about this report, email tim.rath@patch.com.