SUSAN A. KARJO
CARO — On Monday, a 66-year-old woman was released from the Tuscola County Jail after accepting a plea offer which dictates she pay restitution to a pair of police departments. Susan A. Karjo pleaded no contest in Tuscola County Circuit Court to two counts of lying to a police officer investigating a felony with a maximum prison sentence of at least four years in prison.
As part of the agreement, the remaining counts against Karjo were dropped, and her bond was changed from $50,000 to a $50,000 personal recognizance bond, meaning she can leave jail. She also agreed to pay a to-be-determined restitution to the Caro Police Department and Michigan State Police.
Karjo had been jailed since Dec. 2 when she was arrested at a Caro-area business and accused of helping her 19-year-old grandson – wanted for stabbing his uncle earlier in the day – flee to the Detroit area. A personal recognizance bond allows a defendant to leave jail, but be required to pay back an amount of money should she not show up for future court hearings. In Karjo’s case, she would have to pay $50,000.
Prosecutors charged Karjo with obstruction of justice (five-year felony), two counts of lying to a peace officer investigating a felony with a maximum prison sentence of at least four years (two-year felony), and two counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer (two-year felony). The obstruction-of-justice count and the two counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer were dismissed as part of the plea bargain.
Police were dispatched to a home in the 100 block of East Congress Street, just south of State Street (M-81), in the city of Caro, at about 3:30 p.m. Dec. 2. A caller told central dispatch that his nephew – Alexander M. Karjo – had “pistol-whipped” him and stabbed him in the back with a knife.
The victim was treated for a stab wound and released from a local hospital. A knife was recovered from the scene, along with a non-functioning starter pistol. According to court records, both Alexander Karjo and Susan Karjo resided at the address the alleged assault took place. Multiple agencies responded to the scene and determined that Alexander Karjo was with his grandmother – Susan – who helped him flee the scene.
Officers from the Caro Police Department, Michigan State Police Caro post, Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and MSP Emergency Support Team arrived on scene and began searching for the suspect. An MSP helicopter and K-9 unit joined the search, with the helicopter surveying the city of Caro in the December darkness.
At about 7:50 p.m. that night, an off-duty Michigan State Police trooper noticed Susan Karjo’s vehicle in the parking lot of Club 24 Bar & Grill, 1354 Mertz Road in Indianfields Township. Caro police officers and state troopers arrived at the restaurant and located Alexander Karjo hiding under blankets in the back of his grandmother’s Chevrolet Suburban. Susan Karjo was taken into custody inside the business.
According to the police report, investigators believed Club 24 was a meeting point where another relative of Alexander Karjo was going to pick him up and transport him to metro Detroit. It is unusual for prosecutors to request a defendant pay the cost of an investigation, but in this case, Susan Karjo must pay the Caro PD and MSP for the resources they used during the approximately four-hour search for the Karjos.
Alexander Karjo was charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation (10-year felony), two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (four-year felony), lying to a peace officer investigating a felony with a maximum prison sentence of at least four years, seven counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, and domestic violence (93-day misdemeanor).
He pleaded guilty on Jan. 23 to four counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer. Alexander Karjo also left jail on the day of his plea hearing. He had been held on a $150,000 cash bond, but was released on $10,000 personal recognizance bond. Sentencing dates for both Karjos are pending.
