Detroit, MI
Why a Detroit family’s $300 brick repair job turned into a fraud investigation
DETROIT – What started as a seemingly routine home repair quickly unraveled into something far more troubling for one Detroit family.
A man appeared to be posing as a contractor — arriving in construction gear and accompanied by two teens — showed up April 7 at a west side Detroit home, offering to do brick work for about $300. But according to the homeowner’s daughter, the situation started to seem fishy — and expensive — fast.
Tameka Kelly said the trio told her 76-year-old mother they were with “State Line Construction” and began working almost immediately.
“I just felt used and taken advantage of,” Kelly said, looking back at the situation.
“They kept working — kept putting cement down, I said, ‘you might want to tell them to stop.’ He said, ‘well right now it’s $1129.’ I said, ‘my mother‘s not paying you $1000,’” Kelly said.
At one point, the man even offered to repair the bottom of the home’s wheelchair ramp — something Kelly said her sister, who lives with her mother, relies on daily. But she refused because something just didn’t sit right.
“I gave him the $300,” Kelly said, hoping they would just leave. “I thought, well, he knows where my mom lives. I don’t want him coming back trying to do something to my mom‘s house or something to our vehicles.”
Kelly later tried to confront the man, who identified himself as Brian Lopez, and called the number on the invoice.
“When I called he was like, ‘no no no brickwork no brickwork’ I said, ‘yes you did. You were just here. I said I don’t forget a voice,’” she said.
But the biggest red flag came when she looked closer at the address listed on the invoice.
The address — 70 West Maple in Troy — turned out to be a McDonald’s.
“I really got upset when I found out that address was to a McDonald’s,” Kelly said.
Initially, Kelly said when she tried to file a report with Detroit police, she said they told her the situation was a civil matter and she could not file one. She then filed a complaint with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.
Now, Detroit police tell Local 4 they will be taking Kelly’s fraud report, and once that is completed, an investigation will follow.
State Line initially told Local 4 they were not familiar with a Brian Lopez, then an attorney for State Line construction told Local 4 that, after checking the company’s records, there is no Brian Lopez that works for the company. As a matter of fact, the attorney said, State Line Construction does not do cement or residential construction. He said they focus on electrical work.
Attempts by Local 4 to reach the man going by the name Brian Lopez with the number given were unsuccessful.
Kelly said she felt compelled to speak up to prevent others from falling victim.
“I’m really upset about it, and I don’t want it to happen to anybody else,” she said.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Anna Segedi and Mellissa Channell-Watkins on PWHL game at LCA
Anna Segedi, left, and Mellissa Channell-Watkins will play for Vancouver in Saturday’s PWHL game at LCA.
PWHL Detroit added another local player to the roster for the inaugural season in 2026-2027.
Plymouth’s Mellissa Channell-Watkins (Vancouver Goldeneyes) was one of three defensemen signed to the team on Sunday along with Stephanie Markowski (Ottawa Charge) and Mia Biotti (Boston Fleet).
Channell-Watkins joins Macomb’s Taylor Girard, Brighton’s Shiann Darkangelo and Port Huron’s Casey Borgiel as Michigan-area players in the lineup.
Channell-Watkins played with the expansion Goldeneyes last year after two previous seasons with the Minnesota Frost where she won back-to-back Walter Cup titles.
In 30 games in 2025-26, the 31-year-old recorded two assists and tied for fifth among defenders with 44 hits.
In 83 career regular-season games, she has 11 points (1G, 10A), while her nine career playoff points (1G, 8A) in 18 games is tied for third all-time among defenders.
Prior to turning pro, the Little Caesars graduate played at the University of Wisconsin, scoring the game-winning goal in the 2017 NCAA Frozen Four semifinal.
Markowski entered the PWHL as the 20th overall selection by Ottawa in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft.
The 24-year-old finished third on the team with a plus-6 rating in 2025-26 and has recorded 10 points (2G, 8A) in 58 career regular-season games.
Collegiately, the Edmonton native played four seasons at Clarkson University (2019-23), serving as an alternate captain in 2022-23.
She transferred to Ohio State where she won a national championship with the Buckeyes in 2024.
Biotti spent her rookie season with Boston Fleet, making her PWHL debut at Little Caesars Arena on Jan. 3 and went on to record two assists in 13 regular-season games and saw action in two playoff contests.
The 23-year-old from Cambridge, Massachusetts, played four seasons at Harvard University, serving as captain in her senior year, and earned Second-Team All-Ivy League honors.
PWHL Detroit roster
Forwards
▶ Daryl Watts, Detroit’s first signing, Canadian Olympian, Toronto Sceptres
▶ Hannah Bilka, U.S. Olympian, Seattle Torrent
▶ Britta Curl-Salemme, U.S. Olympian, Minnesota Frost
▶ Jesse Compher, Sister of Red Wings forward J.T. Compher, Toronto Sceptres
▶ Taylor Girard, Macomb native, New York Sirens
▶ Shiann Darkangelo, Brighton, Montreal Victoire
▶ Hilary Knight, U.S. Olympian, Seattle Torrent
Defensemen
▶ Cayla Barnes, U.S. Olympian, Seattle Torrent
▶ Sydney Bard, Vancouver Goldeneyes
▶ Nina Jobst-Smith, German Olympian, Vancouver Goldeneyes
Detroit’s draft picks
▶ No. 15 (Second round): Andrea Brandli, G, Switzerland
▶ No. 22 (second round): Casey Borgiel, D, Colgate
▶ No. 34 (third round): MaryKate O’Brien, F, Minnesota-Duluth
▶ No. 39 (fourth round): Kyle Josifovic, F, Connecticut.
▶ No. 51 (fifth round): Sena Catterall, F, Clarkson
▶ No. 63 (sixth round): Georgia Schiff, F, Cornell
Detroit added six new players in the PWHL Draft, including Swiss goalie star Andrea Brändli.
Detroit added six players in the PWHL Draft, including Swiss goalie star Andrea Brändli.
The Detroit Pistons have put Isaiah Stewart on the trade block with multiple offers swirling around the ever-changing rumor mill.
Several teams would benefit from having Stewart, who averaged 10 points, five rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game last season, on a solid 55% from the floor. However, despite linking up well with Jalen Duren, Stewart earning a total of $30 million over the next two years simply doesn’t fit with their future outlook.
Stewart has been linked to the blockbuster three-team trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo; however, if we set that aside, who else could use his talents ahead of the upcoming season?
Stewart embracing the north?
A possible swap involving the Toronto Raptors could be on the cards. The Raptors have been desperate for frontcourt depth, and the Pistons could definitely use more playmaking and shooting options on their roster.
For Detroit, trading Stewart for youngsters Gradey Dick and Jamal Shead makes perfect sense, with the Pistons able to mould them into backups for Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson.
While Shead provided relief for Immanuel Quickley, Dick fell out of the rotation and will be eager for a second chance in the Motor City.
Bringing a much-needed wing player to Detroit, via Cleveland
The Cleveland Cavaliers could bring a talented wing player to Detroit in the shape of Max Strus, whose presence would really help the Pistons.
What they’re short on is two-way wings who can ease the pressure off their stars, and Strus can fit perfectly into that gaping hole.
Beyond his floor-spacing ability, he can also create offense by attacking closeouts, addressing another area where Detroit has struggled.
Look no further than their playoff meeting, which the Cavs won with Strus averaging around 10 points per game in the series, capped with a 20-point showing off the bench in Game 5 that helped swing momentum in the Cavaliers’ favor.
Stewart’s salary and defense helps Denver
One issue that plagued the Denver Nuggets this season was their rim protection, and defense in the paint.
With Stewart, who posted just under two blocks per game last season, his defensive style would really help the Nuggets, but he would be in a similar position to the one he is currently in Detroit: A backup to Nikola Jokic.
Why does this move make sense for both parties? Well, look no further than the money involved. If Denver shipped Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun, who are both on the trade block, it would save the Nuggets money and give Detroit two strong players with championship pedigree.
Stewart is under contract for $15 million in 2026-27, with a team option for the same amount in 2027-28, bringing his total value to $30 million. Johnson’s set to make $23 million, and Braun’s is on $21.5 million. This works better for Denver than it would for the Pistons, but having Johnson and Braun only boosts Detroit’s championship credentials.
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A Metro Detroit church is giving back to the youth. In an age of heightened peer pressures, such as teen takeovers, leaders tell CBS News Detroit that good old-fashioned fun is the way to bring all ages together.
“It’s been a vision of mine and my late husband forever,” said Divine Restoration Ministries Pastor Dr. Tenisia Evans.
Divine Restoration Ministries hosted a Legacy in Action Day on Saturday in the gym of Eastpointe High School in Eastpointe, Michigan. The church says its focus is showing up for communities, especially the future generation.
“So many things going on in the world right now and the youth has been the center of our focus,” said Evans.
Evans says with the help of other church leaders and businesses, including AT&T, they were able to secure food, games and experiences for kids of all ages.
And when it comes to creating an event kids would actually like, Detroit teen Martrail Mullen says they were spot on.
“Kids, we like to move around and still have cardio, and while still having fun at my age, most churches don’t do that,” said Mullen.
Mullen says he has been invited to teen takeovers in the past. While he says he’s never gone to one, he wishes kids would use their time more wisely.
“Kids my age, they are doing a lot of things,” said Mullen.
That’s why Evans says now is the time they open their arms to anyone in need of support.
“We’re here. We’re here for you and we want to pour back and let you know that if you need anything, come to us and we will be here as a resource,” said Evans.
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