The 19-year-old Caro resident at the center of a manhunt earlier this month was arraigned alongside his grandmother on Tuesday, December 6, both receiving several felony counts.
19-year-old Alexander Karjo is accused of “pistol-whipping” and stabbing his uncle at an East Congress Street home on Friday, December 2, around 3:30 p.m., with his uncle saying that Karjo also had a loaded AR-15 semiautomatic rifle in his possession.
Arriving at the house, police at first were unaware that neither suspect nor victim were there, with Caro Police, the Tuscola Sheriff Department, a DNR Conservation officer and the State Police Emergency Support Team being under the impression the suspect was barricaded inside. However, once police learned that Karjo had fled with another relative and his uncle had left to pursue medical treatment, a search began, with the immediate scene being cleared around 7:00 p.m.
Police requested and received help from State Police Canine Units, who searched the area with assistance of a state police helicopter. Not finding the suspect in the area, authorities theorized he was being assisted by his grandmother, 65-year-old Susan Karjo, and her vehicle.
Almost an hour after the search began, an off-duty trooper noticed Susan’s car, a Chevrolet Suburban, parked at the Club 24 Sports Bar & Grill near M-24 and Riley Road, and Karjo was ultimately found in the back of the SUV under a pile of blankets. Despite not being cooperative, the 19-year-old was arrested with use of minimal force, with both he and his grandmother being lodged at the Tuscola County Jail.
Karjo is charged with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, lying to police investigating a felony, a count of domestic violence and seven counts of assaulting or resisting police. Meanwhile, Susan Karjo was charged with two counts of lying to police investigating a felony, two counts of assaulting or resisting police, and one count of obstruction of justice.
She was given a $50,000 bond at 10% cash or surety, while her grandson, who was already on probation for assaulting or resisting police twice before and out on bond for another domestic violence case, received a bond of $150,000 cash.
Both were scheduled for their probable cause hearing yesterday (Wednesday, December 14), and are due back in court for their preliminary examination on Wednesday, December 21, at 9:00 a.m.
