A Livonia man accused of breaking into two homes last month while wearing a white hazmat suit has been charged, officials said.
Manuel Sarkis Bardakjian, 40, has been charged by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office with attempted second-degree home invasion, assault and battery, felonious assault, and using a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to authorities.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday in the 16th District Court in Livonia, the prosecutor’s office said.
If convicted, he faces up to 7.5 years for attempted second-degree home invasion and up to four years for felonious assault. Assault and battery is a 93-day misdemeanor. Using a firearm during the commission of a felony is punishable by up to two years in prison.
Authorities allege Bardakjian tried to break into a home in the 37000 Block of Bristol Drive near Six Mile and Newburgh roads in Livonia at about 10 a.m. on May 13, they said. Officials said the defendant was wearing a white hazmat suit, a mask, gloves, and blue boot covers at the time.
Prosecutors said Bardakjian forced his way into the home’s yard and then tried to gain access to the residence. Police said the suspect attempted to enter the residence through a sliding door.
The home’s 31-year-old owner confronted the suspect, and Bardakjian allegedly assaulted the victim before fleeing, officials said.
Bardakjian is also accused of trying to break into a home in the 37000 block of Bloomfield Drive, also near Six Mile and Newburgh, on May 14, the prosecutor’s office said.
Officials said Bardakjian forced his way into the home’s yard at about 3:30 p.m. while wearing a white hazmat suit, a mask, and goggles. Police said the residence’s 77-year-old owner confronted the suspect, who pointed a gun.
Police said the elderly man escaped and ran to a neighbor’s house. However, Bardakjian allegedly threatened to shoot both victims before fleeing, investigators said.
Authorities said that police arrested the suspect on Saturday following an investigation.
The attempted break-ins are among the most recent home invasion cases in Michigan.
In April, former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore was sentenced to 18 months of probation for trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device. He was initially charged with third-degree home invasion, misdemeanor stalking, as well as misdemeanor breaking and entering.
The same month, a Highland Park man pleaded no contest to charges in connection with firing a gun at a Center Line police officer following a 2024 home invasion.
In February, a former Dearborn Heights attorney was sentenced to at least five years in prison after he tried to break into a fellow attorney’s home with a gun, rope, duct tape, condoms, a Michael Myers mask, and a gag.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
@CharlesERamirez
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Livonia man accused of breaking into homes wearing hazmat suit charged
Reporting by Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
