Oceana suspect’s crime spree has Mason County links

Daryl Essex

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.

HART — Detectives from Oceana County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a Hart man who is suspected in several breaking and entering incidents in Oceana and Mason counties.

Daryl Eugene Essex, 32, has been charged with five multiple count warrants which include breaking and entering, home invasion, larceny of firearms, felon in possession of firearm and habitual offender, a total of 22 felony charges.

“Over the last few months, the Oceana Co. Sheriff’s Office has been investigating several breaking and entering complaints around Oceana County.  In most of these break in’s there has been jewelry, televisions, guns, money and other valuables taken,” said Lt. Craig Mast of the OCSO.

“Over the past couple of weeks detectives at the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office have been reviewing the property taken in by several pawn shops and gold recycling businesses and had developed suspects.”

Mast said on Friday, March 14, Essex, who was considered a suspect, was located just outside the Hart city limits by an OCSO deputy. The deputy made a traffic stop and arrested Essex on an outstanding warrant for an unrelated matter.

Mast said the deputy found Essex in possession of several items of stolen property and also tools that could be used in breaking and entering.

“Interviews with the suspect revealed that he has been involved in break-ins in Mason County that have been investigated by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and other incidents that are being investigated by the Michigan State Police.  Investigations remain open, and other leads are developing other suspects,” Mast said.

Essex was arraigned in Oceana County’s 78th District Court today and remains in the Oceana County jail. Other charges are pending from Mason County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan State Police.