search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts TikTok Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts TikTok
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Infographics
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor Newsletters
    • Techos y Más Advisory Board
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
Roofing News

Crime Blotter

Detroit Man Arrested, Ditches Cocaine onto Roof of Red Lobster

Arrest follows search warrants executed over Independence Day weekend; three suspects face felony drug charges

By Bryan Gottlieb
A picture of a lobster surrounded by a white powdery substance.
July 10, 2024

A Detroit man was arrested last week after tossing bags of cocaine onto the roof of a Red Lobster and adjacent Texas Roadhouse restaurants in St. Clair County, Mich., as he fled from authorities, officials reported.

The suspect, Eric Talton, 29, was arrested by the county's Drug Task Force team on July 3, as first reported by WWJ-TV.  Authorities attempted to arrest Talton at a third restaurant in Fort Gratiot Township, about 66 miles northwest of the city and less than seven miles from the international border crossing in Sarnia, Mich., but he fled on foot. 

A map of the area from Detroit to the crime scene in St. Clair Co., Mich.During the pursuit, Talton purportedly threw 18.5 grams of cocaine onto the roof of a Red Lobster restaurant and an additional 1.8 grams onto the roof of the adjacent Texas Roadhouse restaurant in the bedroom community of 11,000 near Lake Huron.

Authorities recovered both bags of cocaine, and Talton was taken into custody. A search revealed that he also had $1,020 in cash on him. 

Talton was taken to St. Clair County Detention and Intervention Center, where he was charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine, tampering with evidence, resisting and obstructing, and maintaining a drug house.

He was given a $50,000 bond.

The man’s arrest followed the execution of two search warrants ahead of Independence Day that resulted in the arrest of a 48-year-old woman from Port Huron and a 38-year-old man from Eastpointe, about 14 miles northwest of Detroit. 

Those suspects were each charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The 38-year-old was also charged with possession of cocaine, a felony punishable by up to four years.

There is no word on the lobster's condition, but sources said its claws were snapping at a quickened pace.

A street view of the crime scene.The Red Lobster (at right) and Texas Roadhouse restaurants where more than 18 grams of cocaine were recovered, most of which was flung onto the roof of the now-shuttered seafood restaurant. Image courtesy of Google Earth.
KEYWORDS: crime Detroit drugs

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Bsg   mug

Bryan Gottlieb is the online editor at Engineering News-Record (ENR).

Gottlieb is a five-time Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism award winner with more than a decade of experience covering business, construction, and community issues. He has worked at Adweek, managed a community newsroom in Santa Monica, Calif., and reported on finance, law, and real estate for the San Diego Daily Transcript. He later served as editor-in-chief of the Detroit Metro Times and was managing editor at Roofing Contractor, where he helped shape national industry coverage.

Gottlieb covers breaking news, large-scale infrastructure projects, new products and business.


Follow Bryan Gottlieb on LinkedIn

email gottliebb@enr.com | office: (248) 786-1591

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • KEE membrane application on a roof

    A Beginner’s Guide to Single-Ply Roofing Membranes

    While PVC and TPO appear extremely similar, the chemistry...
    Low Slope Roofing
    By: Peter Gross
  • QXO TopBuild Graphic

    QXO’s $17B TopBuild Deal Expands Reach Across Roofing And Insulation

    Analysts say the acquisition expands QXO’s reach beyond...
    Roofing Supply Pro
    By: Tanja Kern
  • A couple stands facing a very nice home

    The Homeowner's Roofing Journey in 2026

    RC asked homeowners what their roofing journey was like,...
    Steep Slope Roofing
    By: Art Aisner
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the Newsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • A happy couple agreeing to purchase a new roof for their home
    Sponsored byRoofr

    What Homeowners Actually Want From Their Roofer (And It's Probably Not What You Think)

  • 3 roofers unrolling a roofing membrane
    Sponsored byGAF Commercial

    PVC: Protection. Versatility. Convenience.

  • You can't bring a dollar amount to peace of mind.
    Sponsored byDaVinci® Roofscapes

    Why Homeowners Are Investing in Premium Roofing Systems

Popular Stories

Top 10 graphic

RC’s Top 100: The Top 10 Roofing Contractors of 2026

Roofing Contractor magazine's sneak peek of its 2025 Top 100 Contractors in North America.

5 Early Facts About Roofing Contractor's 2026 Top 100 List

interior of warehouse

Video: BJ’s Roof Collapses During New Jersey Flash Flooding

Events

July 28, 2026

How Top Home Services Companies Turn Every Conversation Into Predictable Revenue

On Demand In this webinar, we'll outline how top contractors are turning every conversation into predictable revenue by coaching every comfort advisor visit, not just the ones a manager rides along on.

December 7, 2026

Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2026 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • handcuffs-police-roofing

    Louisiana Man Arrested for Stealing $7,000 in Shingles from Business

    See More
  • police-lights

    Iowa Man Arrested After Threatening Roofers with Firearm

    See More
  • police-lights-728

    Colorado Man Arrested After Holding Roofing Salesmen at Gunpoint

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • vrb_1 (1).jpg

    The Art of Roof Cutting Series DVD Library - Basic DVD

  • Green Roof Systems: A Guide to the Planning, Design and Construction of Building Over Structure

  • 007145828X.jpeg

    Manual of Low-Slope Roof Systems Fourth Edition

See More Products
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing