Thursday, November 29 2012 10:42 PM EST2012-11-30 03:42:49 GMT
When we first brought you Annie's story, she was living with no heat in her Detroit home. Thanks to some very generous people, she now has a new furnace.
When we first brought you Annie's story, she was living with no heat in her Detroit home. Thanks to some very generous people, she now has a new furnace.
Monday, November 19 2012 10:15 PM EST2012-11-20 03:15:44 GMT
As the holidays approach, we're all reminded to think about those who are less fortunate. That's exactly what's taking place in one Detroit neighborhood.
As the holidays approach, we're all reminded to think about those who are less fortunate. That's exactly what's taking place in one Detroit neighborhood. Two people once couldn't stand the sight of each other. Now one is relying on the other for survival.
By Charlie LeDuff Fox 2 News
DETROIT (WJBK) -- Annie the old shut in was trapped in her collapsing house with no heat, water or friends. Harold, her neighbor, never liked her much, but he stepped up. That's called decency, something we're in need of.
We aired their story and following Harold's lead Detroit responded. We got her some heat. We boarded up the shattered windows and cleaned the garbage that was smothering her.
Then last week they broke in through a window. You know, they -- that ubiquitous, faceless gang that brings us all down.
"Went up through the back stairway all the way up to the second floor and then kicked in the door up there," Harold explained. "She heard them and started yelling, and fortunately the door held and with her yelling, finally they left."
"That's the only answer, really, is to get her out of here."
"I heard a noise banging on this door... and I kept on saying, 'Who is it? Who is it?' No answer. So then I kept on saying, 'John, get the gun, get the gun,'" said Annie. "And he left, but I didn't hear (anything) going down the stairs or up the stairs."
Who's John?
"I just said John. You mention a gun, they'll run."
They break in all the time and take even what's nailed down, but Annie won't go. They raped her a decade ago and still she stays. Take her out, she says, and she'd die anyway.
"Listen it's your choice, it's your life, but I don't want this last story to be that we had to carry you out of here because somebody murdered you," I said to Annie.
"I know, but when you got to go, you got to go," she answered.
"They always get away with it. They break in. They rob. They steal. They murder. They don't care. The average person doesn't hardly have a chance," said Harold. "It just makes me sick to my stomach because I don't know what to do anymore. I mean, I though we were doing the right thing and we were helping her and we're going to get everything under control, but as you see, they don't care."
"We got to start standing up and saying we are going to do something about it. We are going to change the rules."
Harold's right. There are more of we than they. We have to remember that and look out for each other.
Friday, June 7 2013 5:49 PM EDT2013-06-07 21:49:09 GMT
Secret surveillance allegations. Fudged murder statistics. Overworked, demoralized, ill-equipped, underpaid and disrespected officers forced to play purse snatcher. Can the new chief succeed in the face of such dysfunction?
Allegations of secret surveillance of the civilian police commissioner. Fudged murder statistics. Overworked, demoralized, ill-equipped, underpaid and disrespected police officers forced to play purse snatcher. Can the new chief, James Craig, succeed in the face of such dysfunction?
Thursday, June 6 2013 11:39 PM EDT2013-06-07 03:39:12 GMT
A stunt designed to test Detroiters' attention to detail went real bad, real quick. The experiment had an officer posing as a purse snatcher. Not factored into the scenario was an FBI agent who wasn't in on the plan.
A stunt designed to test Detroiters' attention to detail went real bad, real quick. The experiment had a Detroit police officer posing as a purse snatcher. Not factored into the scenario was an FBI agent who wasn't in on the plan.
Monday, June 3 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-06-04 01:49:36 GMT
The new, half-finished Wayne County Jail may never be completed. Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff says the project is way over budget, and cost overruns could doom the nearly $200 million project.
The new, half-finished Wayne County Jail may never be completed. Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff says the project is way over budget, and cost overruns could doom the nearly $200 million project.
Monday, June 3 2013 6:24 AM EDT2013-06-03 10:24:23 GMT
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
Charlie LeDuff: Off The ChainCharlie LeDuff: Off The ChainMore>>
Monday, June 3 2013 6:24 AM EDT2013-06-03 10:24:23 GMT
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
Friday, May 3 2013 6:10 PM EDT2013-05-03 22:10:10 GMT
LeDuff: Let me offer a short list of things acting Bob Mayor Warfield can accomplish in his few remaining days in office. Things that could cement his legacy as one of Detroit's greats.
LeDuff: Let me offer a short list of things acting Bob Mayor Warfield can accomplish in his few remaining days in office. Things that could cement his legacy as one of Detroit's greats.
Sunday, April 21 2013 9:33 AM EDT2013-04-21 13:33:35 GMT
Coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings has been equally breathless and embarrassing. Spot reports from media outlets who once prided themselves on accuracy and reliability have been little better than Twitter feeds.
Coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings has been equally breathless and embarrassing. Spot reports from media outlets who once prided themselves on accuracy and reliability have been little better than Twitter feeds.
Monday, April 15 2013 7:21 AM EDT2013-04-15 11:21:31 GMT
I went to the dentist Friday morning and got my tooth drilled. My head was numb from the Novocain. I needed a place to hide where nobody would notice. I found it: Detroit city hall!
I went to the dentist Friday morning and got my tooth drilled. My head was numb from the Novocain. I needed a place to hide where nobody would notice. I found it: Detroit city hall!
Friday, April 5 2013 8:43 PM EDT2013-04-06 00:43:42 GMT
Unknown to the citizens, the police officers and even the emergency manager himself, Interim Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan was quietly conferred full chieftain status.
Unknown to the citizens, the police officers and even the emergency manager himself, Interim Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan -- as he has been called for the past five months since Chief Ralph Godbee was bounced from office -- was quietly conferred full chieftain status.
Monday, April 1 2013 9:07 AM EDT2013-04-01 13:07:47 GMT
Emmett Moten owns the Hotel Fort Shelby in Detroit. He owes $170,000 in back property taxes. He has until Monday at 5 p.m. to pay a portion of the back taxes or face foreclosure.
Emmett Moten owns the Hotel Fort Shelby in Detroit. He owes $170,000 in back property taxes. He has until Monday at 5 p.m. to pay a portion of the back taxes or face foreclosure.
Monday, March 25 2013 9:52 AM EDT2013-03-25 13:52:46 GMT
Imagine Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic summoning his pursers to the wheelhouse after his ill-fated ship struck the iceberg. "Quickly gentlemen!" he shouts. "Rearrange the deck chairs. Perhaps no one will notice!"
Imagine Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic summoning his pursers to the wheelhouse after his ill-fated ship struck the iceberg. "Quickly gentlemen!" he shouts. "Rearrange the deck chairs. Perhaps no one will notice!"
Monday, March 18 2013 10:12 AM EDT2013-03-18 14:12:24 GMT
Many people are concerned about Belle Isle's future. The EFM is promising not to make any hasty decisions and to review the numbers first, but that could be a problem. There is no Belle Isle budget.
Now that Detroit has an emergency financial manager, a lot of people are concerned about the future of Belle Isle. Kevyn Orr is promising not to make any hasty decisions and to look over the numbers first, but that could be a problem. There is no Belle Isle budget.
