ALGER COUNTY -- Law enforcement officials say a medical marijuana operation was the target in the armed robbery and home invasion that took place in Munising Township Tuesday.
Four suspects were arrested, and Tuesday they were arraigned.
Officials tonight have released more details about the day that shook up the quiet neighborhood.
It reads like a Hollywood movie script: 911 dispatch receives a call from a meter reader that a man is bound to a chair inside his residence, held against his will.
When authorities arrived on scene, multiple suspects fled to the woods armed with pistols and a baseball bat. After a foot pursuit, authorities apprehended five suspects in total. Following an investigation, they determined one of the suspects was not involved, and he was released.
The victim sustained minor injuries and was treated on scene.
Why Munising Township?
Authorities believe it was the manufacturing of medical marijuana by the victim, a medical marijuana provider and native of Chicago, that attracted the suspects' attention.
George James Carmona, Ruben Joseph Rodriguez, and Israel Velez all from the Chicago area and Issac Cotto of Milwaukee face multiple criminal charges with stiff penalties. They could face life in prison.
Additional charges include home invasion, unlawful imprisonment and assault with a dangerous weapon without the intent of murder, as well as conspiracy to commit each of those crimes.
The men are in custody each on a $250,000 bond.
We talked to the victim in court Thursday, he says he's never seen the men before, and doesn't know why he was attacked.
A preliminary exam is set for March 15th.
Here is the full press release sent out on Thursday.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC