candgnews.com MARCH 5, 2025 Vol. 22, No. 5
Caron Koteles Riha
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BY MIKE KOURY
See ARREST on page 12A
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Mother of murdered teen still seeks justice one year later
mkoury@candgnews.com
BERKLEY — A 24-year-old Berkley man was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor. The Berkley Public Safety Department arrested Darren Bradford on Feb. 21 after he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor over the course of a few months. According to Berkley police, they received a tip on Feb. 5 that a number of teens were seen entering an apartment complex in the city. Witnesses reportedly told police that the minors frequently visit the building. Detective Lt. Andrew Hadfield, of the Berkley Public Safety Department, stated that, through an undercover investigation, officers found that Bradford allegedly distributed illegal Bradford substances and alcohol to the minors. “The investigation (showed) that there were several minors that were going to the home and were obtaining either nicotine or marijuana vape products,” Hadfield said. “During that investigation, one of the teens came out and identified that other things had occurred, which led to an investigation into a sexual assault that occurred with the suspect.” Bradford was arraigned on Feb. 21 in the 44th District Court on one charge of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
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ABOVE: The Southfield Police Department held a press conference Feb. 19 to address the unsolved murder of Tyler Johnson, a teenager who was fatally shot last year. Pictured, from left, are Southfield Police Department Deputy Chief Aaron Huguley, Chief Elvin Barren and Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Justin Davis. Photo by Kathryn Pentiuk
RIGHT: Tyler Johnson was 15 years old when he was fatally shot in a hotel room last February. His mother, Tomika Alexander, misses her son every day. She described him as a funny sportslover who enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. Photo provided by Tomika Alexander
SOUTHFIELD/FERNDALE — One year later, Tyler Johnson’s mother, Tomika Alexander of Ferndale, refuses to let her son’s murder case go cold. “Whether I’m alive or dead, we will get justice for Tyler, and that’s a promise,” she said. Alexander said that her son was funny and loved sports and spending time with friends and family. After being shot in an unsupervised hotel room in Southfield Feb. 11, 2024, the 15-year-old Detroit Loyola High student died four days later, on Feb. 15. Four other teenagers were also in the hotel room. The room was rented by the uncle of one of the teens, who left them unattended. According to the Southfield Police Department, it was one of the teenagers who placed the 911 call. When police arrived at the scene, they located two juveniles trying to flee at the hotel elevator on the seventh floor and detained them for questioning. Police recovered two handguns from one of the teenage suspects, who is a resident of Detroit. The handguns were located in his See TYLER on page 12A
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Berkley resident arrested in sexual assault case
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