Motown Singer’s Wife Held After Fugitive Is Caught

The wife of a Motown singer and songwriter was arrested Monday night on suspicion of harboring a fugitive when police found a carjacking suspect hiding in her bedroom after he eluded officers during a flight that turned into a televised freeway chase, police said.

Barbara Dozier, 47, was booked Monday night at Van Nuys Jail, said Los Angeles Police Officer Jason Lee. Dozier is married to Lamont Dozier, 57, who was instrumental in the birth of the Motown sound.

Dozier was one of the first artists signed by Berry Gordy when Gordy founded the Motown record label in the late 1950s. His first single, “Let’s Talk it Over,” was issued under the name “Lamont Anthony.”

He wrote numbers for The Four Tops, Martha and the Vandelas, Aretha Franklin, Al Wilson and The Supremes, including “Stop! In the Name of Love.” His own hits included “Why Can’t We Be Lovers” and “Tryin To Hold On to My Woman.”

Police found Mark Makonie, 25, of North Hollywood, in the bedroom of Dozier’s house in the 16700 block of Octavia Place about 8:15 p.m., Lee said. Makonie was arrested on suspicion of carjacking.

Detectives from the LAPD’s fugitive section had attempted to serve a warrant on Makonie about 3:50 p.m., but Makonie and another man fled his home in the 5100 block of Vineland Avenue in a late-model black Mercedes Benz, Lee said.

Police gave chase through residential streets in North Hollywood and Encino. Makonie bailed out of the car near Octavia Place and Hayvenhurst Avenue, police said. The driver, Antonio Gilbreath, 26, continued south on the San Diego Freeway, officers said, in a chase broadcast by several TV stations, that followed it by helicopter.

Gilbreath struck several cars, Lee said, before a blown tire forced him to halt near Sunset Boulevard. Gilbreath allegedly jumped several fences and ran into a Holiday Inn adjacent to the freeway, but was caught by police within minutes.

Gilbreath was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and felony evading police. He too was being booked Monday night at Van Nuys Jail, Lee said.