Teen charged in connection with killing of Oakland Co. sheriff’s deputy

An 18-year-old man was charged Wednesday with lying to police and resisting and obstructing an officer in connection with the investigation into the slaying of Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Bradley Reckling, according to court documents.

Karim Blake Moore was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Detroit’s 36th District Court by Magistrate Laura Echartea on three counts of lying to police in connection with a violent crime and one count of assault, resisting and obstructing an officer, court records show. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to records.

Moore’s bail was set at $100,000 cash, with house arrest and a GPS link if he posts bond; a bond redetermination is scheduled for Friday morning with Judge William McConico.

Reckling was fatally shot Saturday night while chasing a stolen car on Detroit’s east side, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. The car, a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, had been stolen from a water park in Madison Heights earlier that day, Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. It came to a sudden stop and its occupants got out and shots were fired, said Bouchard, who called the shooting “an ambush.”

Reckling was a nine-year veteran of the department and is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and children, ages 5, 4 and 1. Jacqueline Reckling is expecting.

Reckling’s funeral is planned for Friday at 3 p.m. at the Apostolic Church, 3655 N. Squirrel Road, in Auburn Hills. And a vigil was held Wednesday night at Romeo High School’s football stadium in Washington Township. The school was Reckling’s alma mater.

More: Mourners remember Deputy Bradley Reckling at Romeo High School vigil

Three men were arrested late Saturday after Detroit police and Michigan State Police set up a perimeter near the scene, according to Bouchard. Two of the suspects were allegedly involved in another police pursuit that began in Troy three months earlier. Both were arrested and charged with carrying concealed weapons.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Wayne County Deputy District Attorney Matthew Penney told the court that Moore gave false statements to police during his interrogation.

“This is a very serious case that is related to the recent unfortunate killing of an Oakland County Sheriff in the city of Detroit,” Penney said. “The charges that are emerging today are related to that investigation. When he was in a car that was involved in the killing of that police officer, he chose, on his own, after seeing the police lights, he ran from the vehicle, he ran with two others who were apparently involved, he ran to three blocks from where, unfortunately, the officer expired.”

During his cross-examination, Moore said he was concerned about his safety in the community when he was released from prison, Penney told the court. Penney said Moore was “a flight risk” and requested the high cash bond of $100,000.

“He’s in the middle of something very deep and very, very serious,” Penney said.

Moore is “presumed innocent” and the charges against him are nonviolent in nature, Moore’s attorney, Adam Clements, said in court, asking for a lower bond, adding that Moore has no criminal record.

“While it may be important and it may be vital for the prosecution to highlight and indicate that its charges stem from allegations related to what is ultimately related to the death of an Oakland County (deputy) sheriff, it does not take away from the fact that it is presumed innocent,” Clements said.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, the Detroit Police Department and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office did not comment on the allegations Wednesday evening.

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