KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety is actively searching for an armed robbery suspect who they believe may be hiding in the South Haven or Hartford areas after being released from the hospital this week.
Kevin DeAndre Ware was airlifted to Bronson Hospital early Wednesday morning after driving away from a traffic stop and crashing his vehicle in Van Buren County. Investigators say he led Van Buren County deputies on a short chase after he and another man, Kristopher Lee Jackson, were stopped along Red Arrow Highway near 70th Street around 1:30 a.m.
Deputies detained Jackson, who was in the passenger seat, during the traffic stop. But Ware drove off in the vehicle and crashed a short time later. A stolen handgun and other evidence of a robbery were found in the vehicle.
Investigators have tied both Jackson and Ware to an armed robbery earlier the same morning, around 12:30 a.m., at TJ’s Liquor Store in the 4500 block of West KL Avenue in Kalamazoo.
The pair are accused of entering the store armed with a handgun, stealing cash and merchandise from the store. Investigators say the pair also took the liquor store employees’ phones to keep them from immediately calling police. Surveillance video from the liquor store also helped develop both Jackson and Ware as suspects.
Jackson was arraigned Thursday on several felony charges, including armed robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of felony firearms. He’s currently being held in the Kalamazoo County Jail.
Investigators are asking anyone that sees Ware to call 911.
Tips in this investigation should be made either to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-337-8994 or anonymously call Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.
