Hold the Battering Ram

Detroit-- Police used a battering ram to break down the door of an Eastpointe apartment after its occupants refused to pay for a delivery of pizza, ribs, chicken and shrimp valued at $17.18.

A woman was later arrested on suspicion of felony larceny.

"We take this kind of stuff seriously. It is a crime," said Eastpointe Detective Lt. Leo Borowsky. "These (delivery) people are on business and if you steal from them, we're going to prosecute."

According to Eastpointe police, a 21-year-old deliveryman arrived at the apartment in the 16400 block of Nine Mile with the combo meal order from Happy's Pizza about 7 p.m. Wednesday. The door was answered by a woman later identified as Jessica Gray, 19.

Gray told the delivery man she ordered the food and took the meal -- along with a large soft drink. Instead of paying, however, she slammed the door on the delivery person, police said. Occupants inside the apartment -- five females from age 14 to 21 -- yelled insults and threats when the delivery person didn't leave, police said.

"She was rough when she took it from him," Borowsky said. "And she was large enough where he didn't want to fight her."

The police were called, and according to a police report, officers "could hear the occupants laughing and whispering inside but refusing to answer the door. The officers advised the occupants that if they refused to come to the door, it would be opened by force."

Police broke down the door with a battering ram. Gray was identified as the person who took the meal from the hands of the deliveryman. Police recovered rib bones, chicken bones and shrimp tails as evidence.

Gray was arrested and arraigned Thursday in Eastpointe District Court on a felony charge of larceny from a person.

She remains in custody on a $5,000 bond.