Westwood Home Invasion Suspect Arrested

Kalamazoo, MI:  On Thursday, November 20, 2008 Kalamazoo Public Safety Officers responded to a Home Invasion in the 1000 block of Stafford Street, located in Kalamazoo’s Westwood neighborhood.  Officers discovered that a suspect entered the residence through an unlocked front door and stole numerous items while the residents were at home asleep. 

In response to this incident and prior thefts that have occurred in this area, Public Safety Officers conducted surveillance and undercover operations in an attempt to identify the person responsible.  As a result of more than 40 hours of investigation during the five days following this burglary, officers located and identified Braylon Gill, a 19-year-old Kalamazoo man, as the suspect in this crime.  A search conducted at Gill’s residence resulted in the recovery of property taken in the Stafford Street home invasion.
 
Braylon Gill was arrested for violating parole and lodged at Kalamazoo County Jail. Gill’s parole status stems from his involvement in several Home Invasions committed in the same neighborhood in 2007.  On Tuesday, November 25th, the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s office authorized felony warrant charging Gill with Larceny in a Building, Unlawful use of a Financial Transaction Device (2 counts) and Possession of Marijuana; Gill remains lodged in the Kalamazoo County Jail.

Kalamazoo Public Safety reminds citizens to keep their homes locked at all times, and especially during the night when people are at home sleeping. Anyone who may have information about this, or related crimes, is asked to contact Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100 or www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.