More info on Houssein Zorkot on here.
Man held on $1M bond after he was found with AK-47
Darren A. Nichols / The Detroit News
DEARBORN -- A 26-year-old man is being held on $1 million cash bond on gun charges after he was found leaving a city park Sept. 8 with an AK-47.
Houssein Zorkot was arraigned Tuesday before 19th District Judge Mark Somers on two felony charges in the incident at Hemlock Park.
Dearborn police responded to a call that there was a man in the park carrying a gun. Police stopped Zorkot's sport utility vehicle as he was leaving the park. He was wearing dark clothes that could camouflage him at night.
After his arrest, police sought a warrant at the man's home, where they seized a laptop computer and several pictures. No other guns were found in the house.
The man also had visited Lebanon within the past month, police said.
Bond was set at the unusually high rate because it was unclear whether he was dangerous, Mayor John "Jack" O'Reilly said. The gun was purchased the night before in a nearby suburban community, O'Reilly said.
"The bond was set because of the nature of this," O'Reilly said. "We can't be sure he might not be a threat. We really don't have enough information to know what his intent was. The indication is he better not be released right now until we know what he is up to."
He was charged with one court of carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, a five-year felony and a two-year felony firearm charge. He also was charged with possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle, a two-year misdemeanor.
Dearborn police have called in the FBI to help with the case. FBI spokesperson Dawn Clenney confirmed they had been contacted about the case, but declined to discuss the issue any further.
"We are aware of the situation. It's their situation," Clenney said. "Beyond that it would be inappropriate to comment."
A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 21.
O'Reilly said although the man had recently visited Lebanon, he was cautious to indicate there was a larger terrorism issue brewing so close to the Sept. 11 anniversary.
"I really wanted not to let it become more of a bigger issue to be played out," O'Reilly said. "The real story will come out when he is bound over."
You can reach Darren A. Nichols at (734) 462-2190 or dnichols@detnews.com
