Suspect in 2009 church break-in apprehended

A man wanted in connection with a 2009 breaking and entering at a Waterford Township church has been arrested and is now in police custody.

According to police reports, the search for Shane Matthew Bernard, 20, of Farmington Hills ended Monday, Jan. 17 when he was apprehended by Farmington Hills police on unrelated charges. The hunt for the man dated back to a break-in at a local church in 2009.

Shortly after 7 p.m. on Jan. 17, 2009, Waterford police officers were called to the Waterford Oaks Community Church, 2930 Watkins Lake Road, on a report of a breaking and entering. When they arrived at the scene, they talked to the church’s minister who told police that someone threw a brick through a sliding glass door. Once inside, the culprit ransacked the offices, opened mail and stole $80 in cash. The church was processed and DNA evidence was collected as part of the investigation.

Last October, the DNA that was collected from the crime scene was run through the Forensic Division of the Michigan State Police. That lab came back with a match, Bernard, who was at the time being held at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility in Adrian. Bernard was released from the facility a month later and failed to make contact with his parole officer.

As a result of not complying with the terms of his parole, a warrant was issued by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s office for his arrest on Monday, Jan. 10, on a charge of breaking and entering. The evidence for that warrant was gathered through a confession as well as additional DNA evidence.