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BY JESI MUNGUIA
The Michigan Department of Human Services has suspended a group child care home license in Bay County.
A complaint was filed last week at the home operated since 2004 by Deborah Dixon and Leona Wade of Bay City.
Upon investigation, DHS found violations of both the Child Care Organizations Act and administrative rules regarding caregiver suitability and supervision.
DHS was contacted for comment but offered no more information beyond referencing its press release.
The suspension prohibits Dixon and Wade from operating a group child care home at the current location and any other Michigan address or location.
BY AMANDA HARRISON CMU Public Radio News
Police are asking for the public's help in identifying a body found in Grand Traverse County on Tuesday.
Officials say two horseback riders discovered the body in East Bay Township.
The body is that of a man, five foot 11 inches tall, and 164 pounds. He has dark skin, hair and eyes.
Police says he was wearing black shoes, dark pants and a colored sweatshirt.
Officials say there is no sign of a struggle,and they are currently waiting for toxicology results to determine the cause of death.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office.
BY JESI MUNGUIA
After pleading guilty to multiple counts of animal abuse, a northern Michigan woman was sentenced this week.
Thirty-five year old Jennifer Elen Tucker-Richard faces up to 3 years probation, 250 hours of community service and is prohibited from owning any animal or having them on her property.
In January authorities seized 37 dogs and 6 miniature horses from her residence near Hillman. Tucker-Richard pleaded guilty to two of five charges against her. One count of animal cruelty or abandonment and another for animal killing or torturing.
Tucker-Richard is also ordered to pay over 18 thousand dollars in restitution, plus over one thousand dollars in fines and costs. Part of the restitution money will be going to the Elk Country Animal Shelter to pay for procedures that were done.
Pauline Handcock, executive director of the animal shelter, said the dogs had to undergo numerous medical procedures and treatments after being taken from Tucker-Richard's home, including skin infections, bladder surgery and "cherry eye" surgery.
BY DAVID NICHOLAS
Yesterday, Detroit native Steve Coffman marked his 36th consecutive Boston Marathon.
He spoke today with David Nicholas about the bomb explosions that killed and injured runners, spectators and volunteers at the finish line of the 117th running of the world famous event.
Coffman was about forty five minutes behind the group that was at the finish when the bombs went off, and a few miles closer when the normal course of the race changed.
"The finish line is closed and this is it."
There were anxious moments as Coffman and others tried to make contact with family and friends, many of whom were gathered at the finish.
Back at Mile 21, Coffman had a spectator make a call for him to his wife, telling her he would be slower in finishing, and to wait for him back at their hotel.
That message did get through and as a result, she was not on the street when the bombs went off.
Both escaped any injury and were traveling back to Virginia today.
Be listening tomorrow during Morning Edition for more of one runner's story in the middle of Monday's tragic events at the Boston Marathon.
BY LINDA STEPHAN
Authorities in Ludington believe two-year old evidence will lead them to a baby that went missing in 2011.
Officials say the best clues come from the soles of her father's shoes.
Plant scientists from the University of Michigan and Michigan State, as well as the Chicago Field Museum examined soil from the shoes of Sean Phillips, shoes he wore on the day he was last seen with his daughter Katherine.
"A June day he says he left her in a "peaceful place."
Turns out some of the plant life is extremely rare in the area. Some of the plant combinations, even more rare.
So rare, Ludington Police Chief Mark Barnett said it's now only a matter of time until Baby Kate is found.
Authorities plan a two-day search this June.
They want volunteers who know plants to work with scientists looking for a rare sedge, along with certain moss and algea
Sean Phillips is behind bars, convicted by a local jury of unlawful imprisonment.
Ludington Police said it's now their job to find the "peaceful place" where his daughter lies.
BY AMANDA HARRISON
A Lake County corrections officer went from guard to prisoner after a meth lab was discovered in his home.
Suspicions first arose when a monitoring agency reported high volume sales of components used to make methamphetamine.
Sheriff Bob Hiltz ordered an investigation, and a search warrant immediately followed.
"Once we were inside it was determined there was a one pot cook going on at that time, so we left the residence and waiting for the state's team to come and do the processing of the evidence and clean up of the scene." Hiltz said.
While waiting, the corrections officer and a female accomplice returned home and were arrested. They face up to 20 years in prison and are currently awaiting arraignment.
BY QUINN KLINEFELTER
A federal jury has found former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick guilty of racketeering. The verdict comes after a five month trial.
Prosecutors argued that Kilpatrcik ran Detroit's government like an organized crime syndicate, steering million sof taxpayers dollars to his friend, contractor Bobby Ferguson, taking kickbacks and using his father Bernard as a go-between.
All three were on trial, and the jury found the former mayor guilty of 24 of the 30 counts against him, convicted Ferguson of racketeering, extortion and bribery, but found Bernard Kilpatrick guilty of only one tax charge.
Jurors said they reached their verdict late last Friday, but wanted the weekend to sleep on their decision before rendering it publicly.
The racketeering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been convicted of extortion, racketeering and a range of other corruption charges in a federal court in Detroit.
The verdict, announced Monday morning, ends one of the largest public corruption trials in decades. Prosecutors argued Kilpatrick steered over $80 million in city contracts to friends, receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks in exchange.
The former mayor was convicted on 24 of 30 counts. Also found guilty were Kilpatrick's father, and a childhood friend, Bobby Ferguson.
A hearing is scheduled for 1:30pm Monday to decided if Kilpatrick should be immediately sent to prison.
Photo by Dave Hogg from Royal Oak, MI, USA
BY JESI MUNGUIA
A community group known as Saginaw Rising said enough is enough when it comes to crime in the city.
Saginaw Rising will be at the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners Committee meeting tonight to present what they call a profound project for crime prevention efforts.
Grady Holmes Jr is organizer of the Saginaw Rising Steering Committee. In January according to FBI statistics, Saginaw is one of the top ten most violent cities in the United States.
"Crime in Saginaw today is going to be crime in other communities tomorrow, and it's like a cancer it's growing. We want to stop the cancer from growing we want to employ crisis intervention model here in the Great Lakes Bay Region and in Saginaw and that's what we're going to do." Holmes said.
Holmes said some of the recommendations will focus on pooling community resources to reduce crime, looking at root causes in the community and educating residents on how to be proactive when witnessing a crime.
Holmes also said his group will make a major announcement at the meeting tonight.
BY JESI MUNGUIA
The woman at the center of an animal abuse case in northern Michigan has pleaded guilty and now awaits sentencing.
Thirty-five year old Jennifer Elen Tucker-Richard pleaded guilty this week to charges including animal cruelty and abandonment.
Authorities in January seized 37 dogs and 6 miniature horses from her residence near Hillman.
Tucker-Richard will face up to four-years in prison for animal cruelty and perform up to 500 hours of community service.
She has also been ordered to pay fines to Montmorency County.
According to defense lawyer James Schmier, Tucker-Richard didn't torture the animals, he contends that she was selling the dogs to make money.
The animals are still being kept at the Elk Country Animal shelter while recovering from multiple health conditions related to their treatment.
According to Pauline Handcock, executive director of the animal shelter, the dogs had to undergo numerous medical precedures and treatments since being taken from Tucker-Richard's home, including skin infections, bladder surgery and "cherry eye" surgery.
Sentencing is set for April 22 in the 26th Circuit Court in Alpena.
TRAVERSE CITY -- Police are searching for an "extremely dangerous" suspect who allegedly brandished a handgun at a house party Saturday night.
The suspect is Tahca Takiya-Mahpiya Milk, a 29-year-old Native American male. Police say he was last seen on the 800 block of Hannah Street in Traverse City.
The firearm Milk brandished was taken away by people at the party. Police say it was a Taurus .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun that was stolen from a Leelanau County home earlier this year.
In addition to the latest incident, Milk is also wanted on several other warrants. Anyone with information is urged not confront Milk, but instead contact the Traverse City Detectives Bureau at (231) 995-5152, or the Silent Observer Tip Line at (231) 947-TIPS.
MOUNT PLEASANT - A missing vulnerable adult from the Shepherd area in Isabella County has been located and taken into police custody.
Juan Romero III was reported missing last Friday. According to police, he suffers from several mental disorders, and displays violent tendencies at times.
He allegedly assaulted a worker at his Coe Township home on Friday, and was reported missing later that evening. Police said he had been off his medication since at least Friday morning.
Romero was located at his mother's residence in Chippewa Township early Thursday morning.
Police have made an arrest tied to a string of armed robberies in Mount Pleasant.
The suspect was arrested Wednesday in connection to the Sunday robbery of a Subway restaurant. The holdups of three other businesses in the city, and one in nearby Union Township, are still under investigation.
Police are not releasing any information about the suspect at this time.
Police in Mt Pleasant continue to investigate a series of recent armed robberies. Investigators say five robberies have been reported in and near the city of Mt Pleasant since Saturday. Officers say the suspect enters gas stations or check cashing businesses, shows a gun and demands money. Police identify the suspect as a Hispanic or white male, approximately 30 years of age, approximately 5'10" in height and 175 pounds. He has been seen wearing a black knit hat, black coat, and black sunglasses. Police agencies in Mt Pleasant are working together to identify and arrest the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call a tip line at 989-779-9111.
The Mount Pleasant area is on edge this morning, after four armed robberies, including one late last night. Police believe the four robberies are all connected.
The bandit has hit two gas stations, a cash advance store and a Subway restaurant.
The suspect is described as a hispanic male, between 5'7" and 5'9".
He was last seen around 11pm last night after holding up a Subway restaurant in Mt. Pleasant. He was wearing a dark colored hoodie, grey or light colored pants, and a baseball-style cap with ear flaps. Police say he may have been driving a dark colored full sized pickup truck or SUV.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
The search continues this morning for a missing Isabella County man.
Juan Romero the Third was discovered missing from his Shepherd-area group home Friday evening. He suffers from several mental disorders, and is unable to care for himself.
Romero is described as a 19-year-old Native American male, weighing 280 lbs. He is 5-foot-11, with long black hair, with a tattoo on the left side of his neck.
Police say Romero has violent tendencies, and should not be approached. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
BY RICK PLUTA Michigan Public Radio Network
Zombies are not attacking the Upper Peninsula. That's reassurance just in case you heard, or heard of, an emergency message that went out on a couple of Marquette TV stations Monday. Hackers briefly took over emergency alert channels to send a message "warning" people that zombies were rising from the dead. Karole White of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.
"It did not get widely broadcast over the entire emergency alert network in the state of Michigan. It was only spotty." White said.
White said abusing the emergency alert system is a federal crime. Similar attacks have apparently hit stations in California, Montana, and Utah.
BY JESI MUNGUIA
Police and animal control officials in Montmorency county are investigating a case of animal abuse at what they say is a puppy mill. Officials found dozens of dogs near hypothermia, with no water, feeding on what appeared to be a road-kill deer.
The County Undersheriff says 23 dogs and 6 miniature horses were seized from a house on Ferry Rd. near Hillman. Another 17 dogs were scheduled to be rescued late Friday.
The dogs went to the animal shelter. The horses were sent to a farm.
Pauline Handcock is the executive director for the Elk Country Animal Shelter.
She said the home the animals came from was a puppy mill. She said the shelter had had complaints in the past about dogs there living in unsanitary conditions.
"One of the little puppies was actually suffering from severe hyperthermia and he was pretty close to dying he was non-responsive and very cold. But he is alive today, he's warmed up and still a little slow but he's eaten, walking around and wagging his tail." Handcock said.
The Montmorency county Undersheriff said this is a criminal investigation.
The shelter is looking for help from the community whether it be volunteering or donating supplies.
BY JAKE NEHER Michigan Public Radio Network
It will soon be a misdemeanor in Michigan to find a dead body and not report it. It's one of more than 50 bills signed by Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley this week.
The charge carries up to a year in jail and a fine up to a thousand dollars. If the intent is to hide the person's death or its cause, it will be a felony. That means up to five years in jail and a five-thousand dollar fine. Republican state Senator Tonya Schuitmaker said fraud cases involving dead bodies are too common in the state.
"In one case, a roommate lived with a dead body and asked the parents for money, not telling them that their daughter was dead." Schuitmaker said.
Schuitmaker said that person did not technically break any state laws. Calley also signed bills this week to revive the Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps, and to prohibit people from claiming medical marijuana under personal injury insurance policies.
People participating in animal fighting will now face increased penalties and possible racketeering charges. That's under a new state law.
The legislative package ups the penalties for dog fighting and other forms of animal fighting, says Kevin Hatman with the Michigan Humane Society.
He said under the old law, the maximum penalty was around four years in prison.
"Now, you know, we're talking about much longer prison time, much higher fines and fees, and also law enforcement can actually seize the property now of any dog fighter that's involved in this activity." Hatman said.
Dog fighters would also be subject to racketeering charges, if they engage in the fighting for material gain.
Hatman said the bills received bipartisan support.
"Whether or not you're on the left or the right side of the political spectrum, I think you agree that dogfighting is absolutely abhorrent. And we just can't have it in our society." He said.
The governor signed off on the legislation last week.
BY JAKE NEHER Michigan Public Radio Network
The man suspected of firing shots at more than 20 vehicles along I-96 and nearby roads faces a charge of terrorism and other felonies. State Attorney General Bill Schuette filed the charges Thursday.
43-year-old Raulie Casteel could face life in prison if convicted. He also faces 60 counts in Oakland County related to the shooting spree. Joy Yearout is a spokesperson for the attorney general. She said the charges are meant to send a message.
"Certainly terrorism is an unusual charge, but the facts of this case warrant it." Yearout said.
The attorney general is consolidating cases related to shootings in Ingham, Livingston, and Shiawassee counties. One person was injured in the shootings.
A man who scammed 180-thousand dollars from people who thought they were donating to veterans' charities has been sentenced to jail.
Neil Thrasher of West Bloomfield was accused of creating two fake charities that were supposed to benefit veterans.
But instead, he used the 180-thousand dollars he collected as his own personal slush fund.
He pleaded no contest to two counts of embezzlement from a charitable organization, and one count of violating the Charitable Solicitation Act.
He was sentenced last week to 17 months to 10 years behind bars.
He also has to pay 74-thousand dollars in restitution to the Paralyzed Veterans of America and Disabled American Veterans.
BY CONSUELO MCABOY
The Traverse City Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a man that sexually assaulted an 8 year old boy at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center.
The incident happened on October 25th.
Police say the boy had been playing at the center skate park with friends.
When he left, he was followed by an unknown male who waited for him to enter the door code of an apartment building. The man followed the boy into the lobby area of the complex and assaulted him.
The suspect is described as a male around 25 years old, tan looking skin with short dark hair.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Traverse City Police Department.
BY AMANDA HARRISON
Police are asking for public help in finding who killed 57 hundred fish at a hatchery in Beulah in Benzie county.
Edward Eisch is with the Platte River State Fish Hatchery. He said vandals herded the fish into the corner of a pond. That plugged water flow and dissolved the oxygen, leaving the fish to suffocate. "I expect what they were trying to do was to get some fish in an underhanded way. I don't know if it was just to get a few fish to take home and eat or if it was the thrill or what it was, I don't understand what they were doing."
Eisch said stealing fish from hatcheries has been happening across the state. But, he said in this case, no fish were missing. The Beulah hatchery has never had a problem in the past, and is expected to be ok, this season.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact their local conservation officer at the DNR.
BY CONSUELO MCABOY
The Michigan Senate has approved a measure strengthening protections for crime victims...
Senate Bill 1211 is called a "Crime Victim's Right to Know."
It is one of three bills aimed at keeping violent offenders behind bars, strengthening notification rights to crime victims, and increasing penalties involved in human trafficking.
The measure allows crime victims to present exhibits at parole hearings, and requires crime victims to be notified if a governor reduces legal penalties, if a parolee does not surrender or if the criminal dies in prison.
Tuscola county Republican Mike Green is the bill sponsor.
"It's important that crime victims are aware of what's going on with perpetrators. Many crime victims live in fear everyday that their perpetrator could be let out of prison and they'd still be in danger and I think that we all believe that this is something that should be known when these things happen."
Green said the bill passed the House and is waiting to be signed by the governor.
He said once the law is signed, it will take effect immediately.
BY RICK PLUTA Michigan Public Radio Network
Violent felons convicted of four offenses now face at least 25 years in prison, under a law signed Monday by Governor Rick Snyder.
In a written statement, Governor Snyder said the new law holds chronic offenders accountable, while giving some peace of mind to victims and their families. There are 47 violent offenses covered in the new "four-strikes" law. They include kidnapping, rape, armed robbery, home invasion, and weapons violations. Attorney General Bill Schuette called for the tougher penalties. He said they will help keep people safe by locking up habitual offenders for many years, and aid in Michigan's economic recovery. His office figures it will affect maybe 25 felons a year in Michigan. Some critics of tougher mandatory sentences say the state would be better off by putting more felons into treatment and rehabilitation programs instead.
BY JAKE NEHER Michigan Public Radio Network
A coalition of public health groups, law enforcement, and businesses have joined together to oppose to a plan to relax state alcohol rules.
A report by the state Office of Regulatory Reinvention called for the Legislature to make it easier for businesses such as gas stations and farmers markets to sell beer, wine, and liquor. The ORR made more than 70 recommendations in June to change the state's liquor control system. But some police, public health, and business groups say the proposed changes would lead to more alcohol-related crimes and violence. Bob Stevenson directs the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. He said the ORR failed to include police in the process.
"In the original committee there was no local law enforcement. Had we been included we could have brought these concerns out, but we were not."
ORR officials say they don't think access to alcohol would significantly increase. In fact, they say, some of their recommendations would make streets and homes safer.
BY JAKE NEHER Michigan Public Radio Network
Police say they've zeroed-in on the person who defaced the state Capitol building last week with spray paint.
Investigators aren't releasing any information about the suspect yet. But they say it looks like only one person is to blame for two stick figures spray painted on the Capitol's front columns, and a message reading "Give art a chance" on the back of a war memorial on the Capitol lawn. State Police Lieutenant Kyle Bowman said there is still no arrest, but that should come soon.
"We'll be submitting our portion of the report for our investigation to the Ingham County prosecutor's office sometime this week."
Workers at the Capitol are still trying to remove the spray paint. They say the incident could cost taxpayers several thousand dollars.
A West Bloomfield man has been charged with establishing fake veterans charities for his own personal financial gain.
Neil Thrasher is accused of establishing two fake charities: The Paralyzed American Veterans and Disabled Veterans of America. The names are quite similar to two legitimate charities: Paralyzed Veterans of America and Disabled American Veterans.
According to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, Thrasher allegedly collected over 100-thousand dollars from unsuspecting donors between 2009 and April of this year.
The attorney general claims Thrasher then used the money at athletic clubs, liquor stores and restaurants.
BY JAKE NEHER Michigan Public Radio Network
State police are trying to find who is responsible for vandalizing the state Capitol building Wednesday night. Facilities workers said the damage is the worst they've seen in decades.
It's not easy taking care of a historic building like the state Capitol. But it makes it much harder for people like decorative painter Greg Hess when their time, and budget, are spent cleaning up acts of vandalism.
Hess was trying to scrub off a spray-painted message reading "Give art a chance" from the back of a war memorial on the Capitol lawn. Just a few hundred feet away, one male and one female stick figure were sprayed right on two of the building's columns.
Officials estimate the graffiti could cost the state up to eight-thousand dollars. That money would otherwise be spent on a list of other much-needed repairs to the historic landmark.
BY SARAH CWIEK Michigan Public Radio Network
The Michigan Attorney General charged four people with conspiring to commit election fraud.
They were staffers to former suburban Detroit Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, who resigned last month.
McCotter was a five-term Republican incumbent from suburban Detroit.
He failed to make the ballot this year after state elections officials found all kinds of problems with the petition signatures meant to get him on the ballot.
Now, those "problems" have turned into four McCotter staffers facing criminal charges for what Michigan Asttorney General Bill Schuette calls "blatant attempts to commit election fraud."
Schuette said he didn't charge McCotter because there's no direct evidence he knew what his staff was up to.
But Schuette said there is evidence this isn't the first time McCotter's staffers pulled these stunts.
"We have some evidence that there were dummied-up petitions from '06 used in '08."
Schuette said if evidence of McCotter's involvement surfaces, he won't hesitate to charge him.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story included an incorrect headline. We apologize for the mistake.
BY JESI MUNGUIA
 The Roscommon County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect in a recent crime. The woman is accused of stealing and using credit cards, and her photo has been captured by an ATM camera.
Police say credit card and financial information was stolen from a victim in Roscommon County.
John Wybraniec is the Detective-Sergeant for the Roscommon County Sheriff's Office.
"In the process there were eight some ATM cards that were stolen and as a consequence we have a perpetrator who then decided to use those cards. By withdrawing money from the account. So we do know the cards were used in fact in Prudenville Michigan at least in a couple instances and we do suspect that the person has ties to probably the Prudenville or Houghton Lake area."
Detective Wybraniec said the financial information was stolen from a vulnerable adult.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Roscommon County Sheriff Office at (989)-275-5101 or email detective@roscommoncount.net
BY QUINN KLINEFELTER
Jury selection begins Wednesday in one of the highest-profile public corruption trials in the history of Detroit. Federal prosecutors accuse former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick of running city government like it was an organized crime family.
BY RICK PLUTA Michigan Public Radio Network
Police in Marshall confirm they're investigating what appears to be an instance of a protester trespassing and hanging a banner on the home of state House Speaker Jase Bolger.
The protester made a video of her work. A woman who calls herself Laura Love posted the 11-second video to YouTube that shows a banner hanging from a porch.
"'Vaginas Are Revolting' in front of Jase Bolger's house right now. I did that. Yeah."
A Marshall police spokesman said a neighbor reported the incident last Thursday. The police now have the banner.
The woman in the video appears to be the same person who organized a protest the day before at the state Capitol. Her group of about a dozen people stood in the gallery of the state House, sang a song about vaginas to the tune of the Beatles' "She Loves You," clapped, and danced for several minutes before re-taking their seats. They were hoping to be kicked out, but no action was taken.
BY AMY ROBINSON
While officials in Colorado are launching an investigation into today's mass shooting, theater owners around the country are reacting to a crime that tragically occurred within the landscape of their industry.
Steve VanWagoner is Vice President of Marketing for Celebration Cinemas.
"Well it's profound, and it goes beyond the industry. It goes what building it took place. It's a tragedy, and to find words to describe it is difficult. Throughout our company, there's a profound sadness and a shock, getting over the shock of it. But we, because we're in the industry, we rally quickly to ask ourselves what are we doing? What's the next step? Are we going to continue? We're going to listen to our guests, and our guests have been telling us they're still coming out. So that's what we'll do, we'll continue with our business and run our shows as they've been scheduled."
Celebration Cinema is based in Grand Rapids and owns nine multiplexes in central and western Michigan
VanWagoner said his company has 68 years experience managing large crowds, and he said staffing had already been increased in anticipation of a busy weekend.
He said after the Colorado shooting, staff has a heightened awareness of safety.
By Amy Robinson
A former assistant fire chief; a man described as, "an upstanding community leader" was sentenced this week to a year in jail and $13,000 in restitution for setting fires on state land.
Investigators say 71-year old Howard Leroy had served as Assistant chief of the Roscommon township fire department when he committed the arson. He pleaded guilty to two fires, but officials say he may have committed dozens more over a period of years.
Lt. Creig Grey was in charge of the investigation for the DNR.
He said a number of suspicious fires were set at time that fire crews were busy fighting other, often large fires. Like the one that threatened the city of Grayling in 2008. He said often the timing of the fires made them dangerous.
"Anytime we have an arson fire, but especially when we have our resources committed on something like this, the potential for us not to be able to get at it and get a handle on it very quick, and usually those are days that the fire danger is very high and they are extreme conditions. It just could be devastating, what could happen."
Lt Grey said wildland arson fires, while not rare, are not uncommon.
He said he doesn't know the motive for LeRoy's crime.
By Kaitlyn Camilleri
Asian carp have posed a problem for the Great Lakes for decades, and now a man from Arkansas has been charged with the selling of invasive species to people in Midland.
Officials say the suspect sold fish to two undercover DNR investigators last month.
Ed Golder is the Public Information Officer for the Michigan DNR.
"Asian carp represent a very significant and serious threat to the health of the great lakes and to our waterways. They're large, ferocious animals that can just take over sections of the water ways and they consume food that is then not available to native species. And so that's the very grave concern about Asian carp getting into the great lakes."
Golder said the suspect was conducting sales out of a pond-stocking truck. He said carp are used to clean vegetation out of private ponds.
The concern is, if the fish get into the Great Lakes, they'll proliferate and destroy native habitats.
The suspect has been charged with ten felony counts of possession of a prohibited species.
By Mike Horace
A manhunt continues this afternoon in Roscommon County for an escaped prisoner.
Police are searching for 29 year-old Everett Robinson. He escaped from an Arenac County transport vehicle Monday morning in Roscommon County's Backus Township.
Police say he is armed and dangerous.
Law enforcement officials have set up a 5-mile by 5-mile perimeter, and are searching the area using helicopters and canine units.
Robinson is described as 5-feet 9-inches tall, 220 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing orange clothing.
Officials with the Roscommon County Sheriff's Department say they believe Robinson is still within the perimeter area, because they have not received tips from outside the area.
Police say he had been in court earlier Monday on a home invasion charge. He has a previous sex-crime conviction, and is required to register as a sex offender for life.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
For updates/ to confirm that Robinson is still at large, call the Roscommon county sheriff's dept at, 989.275.5101
A manhunt is underway in Roscommon County this afternoon for an escaped prisoner.
According to published reports, 29-year old Everett Robinson escaped from an Arenac County transport vehicle this morning in Backus Township of Roscommon county. Police say he may be armed.
Robinson is described as 5-feet 9-inches tall, 220 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing orange clothing.
Police say he had been in court earlier today on a home invasion charge.
Houghton Lake schools were on lockdown today and police closed off M-55 at County Rd. 157 to I-75 to search for Robinson.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
By Amy Robinson Police in Mt Pleasant are asking for the public's help in identifying a man wanted for check fraud. Trooper Chris Seigert with the Michigan State Police said the man somehow got ahold of at least one victim's checking account information and used it, illegally, to his advantage. At this point, I don't know if he knows the victim or not, I imagine at some point, the victim wrote a check and this suspect, he may have been working to where ever this guy wrote a check to and wrote down his information and then just made his own checks and printed them off with the victim's information on the checks. And then began cashing them. Trooper Seigert said police were fortunate in that the bank was able to provide a clear photo of the suspect. A clear picture of the suspect can be found here. Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call the Michigan State Police post in Mt. Pleasant.
By Amanda Harrison
A ceremony in Mount Pleasant marked the end of Victims Rights Awareness Week Friday.
During the ceremony Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick was awarded the 2012 Crime Victim Advocate of the Year Award presented by the Michigan Crime Victim Foundation.
Burdick said although he's grateful for the recognition, Victim's Rights Awareness Week is not about him but the victims.
Burdick stresses that victims have a wide range of rights that sometimes they're not aware of.
"They have not only statutory rights but constitutional rights, to be informed of the process, to have a say in the process, to be present at court hearings, to have their voices heard and again because the system can be intimidating sometimes it's really important that they know that and we try to get them to know that upfront to get them to participate again in what is sometimes an arduous journey that they have to take."
Burdick said the legal process may be daunting but with the support of a legal team victims can get through it.
By Rick Pluta It is now against the law in Michigan for witnesses to a crime to lie or conceal facts from police investigators. The Michigan law is similar to the one that makes it a crime to mislead federal agents conducting an investigation. Sergeant Dwayne Gill with the Michigan State Police said the new law does not interfere with a suspect's right to remain silent. "You don't have to talk to the police. But, if you choose to waive your rights and talk to the police, now you need to be truthful." "We think it's going to be very difficult for police officers and departments to differentiate between an innocent mistake and an intentional lie that's designed to harm or mislead an investigation. That's the American Civil Liberty Union's Rana Elmir. She said the ACLU is concerned the law might be abused, and will keep a close eye on how it is applied. Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Rick Pluta Governor Rick Snyder was in Flint Wednesday to roll out a plan to fight high crime rates in Michigan cities. The governor presented his plan in front of a room filled with police officers, prosecutors, and other local government officials. The plan has 34 separate initiatives and would cost tens of millions of dollars Governor Snyder wants to hire and train 180 new state troopers to work in high-crime cities, put more scientists in crime labs, and place parole officers in local police departments. 'It's law enforcement. It's criminal justice. It's crime prevention." But the governor said he also wants to link welfare benefits to school attendance, attack urban blight, and start up a 15 million dollar urban jobs program. "It's education. It's housing. It's transit. It's jobs, and a future for all our kids." The governor's plan would focus first on Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, and Pontiac - some of the most violent cities in the nation. The governor said he will submit a budget request to the Legislature within two weeks. Copyright 2010, MPRN
By amy robinson
One man who apparently had no compunction about lying to police is in jail today. Not for the lying itself, but for what he was trying to hide.
The 52-year old was pulled over by State police Wednesday for failing to wear a seat belt. In the course of the stop, the trooper discovered that the man was using a false name, had been living in Michigan for 20-years and had never gotten a driver's license.
And as State Police Sgt. Josh Lator explains, there were more surprises to come.
"This person had been arrested under the false name he provided in three different counties in Michigan, and no one had ever uncovered his true identity. And his true identity was that he was a fugitive from Jamaica who had been ordered by a federal judge to leave the country in 2001 due to some criminal charges he'd been involved in. And the trooper further found out that he's a suspect in a major case that's open right now in the city of Chicago."
Sgt Lator declined to say what the major case entails. The suspect, who had been living in Big Rapids remains in custody.
This first story might come as a bit of a surprise.
Apparently, it's not illegal in Michigan to lie to a police officer during the course of a criminal investigation.
But the State House is trying to change that.
It is a crime to lie to federal investigators, but at the state or local level not so much.
State Representative John Walsh said he was shocked when he learned you're actually allowed to lie to the police.
"I had no idea that you could lie to a police officer as a witness, and get away with it. But prosecutors and police officers brought it to my attention recently, and we put this bill in."
Walsh's legislation makes it a crime to knowingly and willfully lie to a police officer who is conducting a criminal investigation.
It also lays out penalties for lying, including up to two years in jail and 5-thousand dollars in fines.
The bill does make some exceptions, including for crime victims, and people acting under duress or out of fear of physical harm.
The legislation now heads to the State Senate.
By Laura Weber Pickup truck owners in Michigan should lock their vehicles and take the most care to prevent auto theft. A new report from the Auto Theft Prevention Authority shows the top ten stolen vehicles in the state are 10-to-15-year-old trucks. Dan Vartanian is with the prevention authority. He said it makes sense that thieves single-out older trucks. "Passenger vehicles become more and more sophisticated with anti-theft locking devices, with GPS devices and so-on, that are installed in passenger vehicles. Older trucks lack this type of technology." Overall auto theft has declined steadily in the state since the mid-1980s. The number of cars and trucks stolen fell by about nine percent over the past couple years. Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Rick Pluta Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said the state should use a budget windfall to hire a thousand more police officers. Statewide, violent crime has gone down in recent years, but Michigan still has some of the most dangerous cities in the country. Four of the top 10 most violent U-S cities are in Michigan. The state has three thousand fewer police officers than it did a dozen years ago. Mostly, that's due to state and local government budget cutting during the recession. But now, Michigan's running a surplus. And Attorney General Bill Schuette said Michigan's economic turnaround requires public confidence that streets and neighborhoods are safe. "More cops on the street, more criminals behind bars and it changes the equation in Michigan." Schuette wants to spend 140 million dollars from a 450 million dollar budget surplus over the next two years to hire police officers. Schools, universities, and the state's "rainy day" savings fund are also competing for some of that money. Copyright 2010, MPRN
Reducing Michigan's crime rate was one of the goals proposed by Governor Rick Snyder last night in his State of the State address.
That was welcome news to the lawmakers who represent one of Michigan's most dangerous cities: Saginaw.
Crime was one of the first things mentioned by Governor Snyder last night.
"We have four of the top 10 cities on the most violent crime list for the United States: Flint, Saginaw, Pontiac and Detroit. And in 2012, we are going to focus on this."
That was welcome news to Republican State Senator Roger Kahn, who represents Saginaw County. He said to reduce the crime rate, the focus must extend beyond.
"You've got to have jobs as part of the crime issue, and education as part of the crime issue. So yes, we need to put more police officers out, but we've got to find a way to deal with the issue of joblessness and the associated hopelessness that goes with that. We have to educate children from birth to be successful."
State Representative Stacy Erwin Oakes also believes that education is key to reducing crime rates. The Saginaw Democrat is hoping the legislature will appropriate more money for education this year.
"As we know, we currently have a surplus. It is our hope that those funds will be replaced back into the School Aid Fund, and we will take a systematic approach from birth to college age in investing in education."
Education aside, Erwin Oakes said she's concerned about Saginaw losing police officers over the coming year.
"The City of Saginaw, we know we are losing the State Trooper post from downtown Saginaw, the district office, and also have lost the State Trooper post in Bridgeport. So it just seemed to me that that's working against the ultimate goal of reducing crime."
The governor has said that by reducing brick and mortar state police posts, more troopers are able to be out on the road fighting crime.
Snyder is also planning a special message for March that will address Michigan's public safety issues.
By Consuelo McAboy
Last week, many Saginaw county residents experienced a power
outage caused by vandalism. Today, Consumers Energy continues to search for the
perpetrators in the incident.
Nearly two thousand electric customers were without service for 20 hours on Friday. The damaged
substation is located in a swampy area. The utility crews had to climb 65 foot
poles to make the repairs.
Timothy Pictryga is a spokesperson for Consumers Energy. He
said the incident caused a lot of damage to the substation.
"Some vandals were walking along the railroad tracks and
chose to use our facilities basically our insulators and our poles as target
practice. In doing so, they damaged 10 insulators and several wooden cross
arms which had to be replaced."
Pictryga said Consumers Energy is offering an award of up to
two thousand dollars for any information on the vandalism.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Consumers
Energy asset protection department at 1-800-760-3295.
By Toby Jones
According to The Police Executive Research Forum a number of
police departments believe they're seeing an increase in crimes directly
related to the poor state of the economy.
It seems this trend is even affecting Bay View, a summer
only Northern Michigan resort community.
In a typical off-season, 2-3 cottages will be broken into.
But since November, 38 cottages have been burglarized.
Bay View is an idyllic summer Chautauqua community made up
of 435 Victorian cottages. To be on its grounds gives one a taste of America in
the 1950's. Residents rarely lock their doors and children have free reign to
run the grounds day and night. But this winter, nearly 10% of these summer only
cottages have been broken into and burglarized. Bay View's Executive Director
and former police officer John Stakoe is concerned and a bit baffled by this
unprecedented string of burglaries.
"Clearly as you've pointed out this is something that is
extremely new to Bay View in its 136 year history. We've been very concerned
about it. Internally, we're doing everything we can to keep the cottagers apprised,
and handle things on, from an administrative basis. We're working very closely
with the State Police and the Sheriff's Department. We're sharing intelligence
information. And we're very pleased with the response that we're getting from
the police agencies, they're as concerned about this as we are and hopefully we
can wrap this up fairly soon."
Bay View cottage owners are receiving regular security
reports and updates and will continue to until these burglars are apprehended
and brought to justice.
By Amy Robinson
An American who's been sentenced to death by Iran for alleged espionage graduated from high school in Flint.
The family of Amir Hekmati said he was visiting family in Iran. They insist he's not a spy.
CMU Political Science professor Sterling Johnson said whether or not Hekmati is a spy may become a bit of a moot point, since he's now a pawn in international politics.
"I really doubt that he's a spy, but I'm certain that they're going to take advantage of the situation. To use his capture as leverage against the United States in negotiating a nuclear program."
Dr. Johnson said it's not uncommon for Iran to attempt to use Americans or other western captives as leverage in international affairs.
He said he believes it would take at least a symbolic concession from the US government to secure Hekmati's release.
A non-profit clearinghouse for information about capital punishment finds that the use of the death penalty in the U-S continued to decline in 2011.
Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said the number of new death sentences nationwide dropped to the lowest level since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976.
He said a drop in other metrics also shows Americans are moving further away from capital punishment, reflecting a decade-long trend.
"Executions dropped. Public support for the death penalty in the Gallup Poll dropped this year, and the number of states with the death penalty declined this year."
In the last four years, four states have repealed the death penalty.
Capital punishment has been illegal in Michigan since 1846.
By Amanda Harrison The Michigan Attorney General brought formal charges against a funeral home manager yesterday. Erica Cederberg Kaznowski allegedly embezzled nearly a half million dollars from money meant to cover pre-paid funerals and insurance premiums. Joy Yearout is with the Attorney Generals Office. She said the investigation has been on-going since last July. "Well so far we've identified 89 victims whose funds were not properly put into a trust. Now typically what happens is a consumer will purchase an insurance policy or they'll purchase a product where they'll invest several thousand dollars with a funeral home. The purpose is to pay for your funeral in advance so your loved ones don't have that expense." Kaznowski was acting as business manager of Stapish-Cederberg funeral homes in Bay City and Essexville. She is being charged with seven counts of embezzlement and racketeering. Concerned citizens should contact the Attorney Generals Office for more information. Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Amanda Harrison
MADD released a report this month that ranked Michigan as being soft on drunk driving.
Based on new standards from MADD, Michigan got one out of a possible five stars.
The state earned its one star for enforcing harsher penalties when children are involved.
Beth Sowulewski is with MADD. She said there are five enforcements a state needs to have in order to earn a five star rating.
"But the two with the strongest ties to reducing drunk diving is the ignition interlocks and then allowing sobriety checkpoints. So I mean those would be two areas right in themselves that would greatly impact reducing fatalities in Michigan as well as injuries."
Ignition interlocks are breathalyzers placed in offenders' cars that test for sobriety before starting the vehicle.
MADD is encouraging lawmakers to require all convicted drunk drivers to "blow before they go"
By Rick Pluta The Michigan Court of Appeals has that inmates are not necessarily entitled to Miranda warnings when they are being investigated for alleged lawbreaking in prison. Typically, Miranda warnings that a suspect has the right to remain silent and have an attorney present have to be given once a person is detained and no longer free to leave. In this case, suspected gang member Burton Cortez was handcuffed and questioned after guards found two metal shanks in his cell during a lock-down search of the state prison in Carson City. With a recorder running, Cortez acknowledged the blades were his, and admitted he sold a third shank to another inmate. Prison officials said the main purpose of their interrogation was to gain information to help restore order following a string of gang-related fights, and to root out a plot to murder a guard. That was enough for the trial court, and the Court of Appeals to deny Cortez's motion to suppress his confession and the tape. The courts said Miranda warnings are not necessary when prison officials' top focus is to keep the peace, and not to determine whether a crime has been committed, or who is responsible. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
Chelsea Hagger
Parents in Michigan may soon be required to report missing children within 24 hours. The state Senate passed a measure Tuesday that was designed to deal with situations such as a mother in Florida who failed to report her missing child for more than 30 days. Casey Anthony was charged and acquitted of murdering her child.
The measure would subject Michigan parents who fail to quickly report missing children to up to 2 years in prison and a 5-thousand dollar fine.
State Senator Rick Jones said he was surprised a similar law was not already in place in Michigan.
"I simply want to see parents report their children in a timely fashion so hopefully they can be recovered."
According to the bill, parents would have 24 hours to report a missing child younger than 13-years-old. The so-called "Caylee's Law" was unanimously approved by the Senate and has been sent to the state House.
By Rick Pluta A state commission began work this week to ensure that everyone who is accused of a crime in Michigan gets an adequate legal defense. Michigan allows every county to handle its own public defender system. The system is frequently cited as one of the worst in the country. That's because some counties do a good job of ensuring that even people who cannot pay get a good lawyer. Other counties are more haphazard. There are also no training standards for public defenders. Retired Judge James Fischer chairs the commission. "I think you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would argue that there are no problems with the system, that it's working perfectly fine for everyone. I'm pretty certain that's not going to be anyone's position." The commission's first step was to approve a set of questions for every county to answer on how it assigns and pays public defenders. One of the common complaints is that public defenders must take on too many cases to earn a living. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Mike Horace
When kids act up, locking them up is the wrong thing to do in most cases.
That, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
The foundation's Juvenile Justice Strategy Group director, Bart Lubow said decades of research, along with new data, shows putting kids behind bars doesn't prevent them from committing crimes later.
Lubow said locking kids up provides few public safety benefits and wastes tax payer money and that most crimes committed by kids are "minor."
"The majority are either charged with nonviolent offenses, or are there primarily for acts of defiance relative to an adult."
The report notes that several states are already moving away from relying on juvenile incarceration, mainly because of budget woes or scandals over abuse at institutions.
It finds more than 50 facilities have been shut down since 2007 nationwide.
By Rick Pluta A federal judge has struck down the Michigan law banning protests at funerals. The judge said the law went too far in trying to stop protests at military funerals. The decision says the law is too vague to enforce and violates free speech rights. The law was adopted primarily to stop members of the Westboro Baptist Church from showing up at military funerals with signs blaming the deaths on tolerance of homosexuality. But also caught up in the effort was Army veteran Lewis Lowden and his wife Jean. They were removed from a funeral procession and arrested because of signs criticizing President George W-Bush taped to their car windows. They missed the burial of a family friend who was killed in Iraq. Dan Korobkin is the American Civil Liberties Union attorney who represented the Lowdens. He said the decision should be a lesson for lawmakers. "When we try to legislate against people we hate, we end up harming the people who really deserve to have their freedoms protected." Said Korobkin. Korobkon said it is still against the law to physically interfere with or disrupt a funeral. © Copyright 2010, MPRNBy JCWilmore (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0
(www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Michigan House has approved legislation making it easier to pull people with outstanding warrants off state welfare rolls.
State Representative Jon Bumstead sponsored the legislation.
He said it allows the state police and the Department of Human Services
to work together to identify bridge card recipients that have
outstanding warrants.
"Collaboration is what we're looking at in the State of Michigan, and
this is one example of what we're working towards. They can work
together, back and forth with crosschecking references. And if somebody
has warrants for arrest, they can be taken off their assistance." Said Bumstead.
According to the non-partisan House Fiscal Agency, the information
sharing effort could remove nearly 6-thousand people with outstanding
warrants from assistance programs.
The legislation still must be approved by the state senate.
By Rick Pluta A guard at the state prison in Newberry is being held in the Mackinaw City jail awaiting felony charges of trying to smuggle contraband to inmates. John Cordell is with the Michigan Department of Corrections. "It appears from the investigation that he was trying to introduce contraband, both heroin and contraband tobacco, which is illegal inside facilities inside the correctional facility." Cordell said the man is facing at least three felony charges. He said the scheme was detected from monitoring phone traffic into the prison and information from a cell phone that was seized from a prisoner. The guard was stopped and arrested in downtown Mackinaw City. Cordell said the contraband was in the corrections officer's car. The guard has also been suspended without pay from his job at the prison in the eastern Upper Peninsula. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Laura Weber A state senator said in-home health care workers should be licensed by the state as a deterrent for fraud. State Senator Mark Jansen said some in-home caregivers prey on the state's most vulnerable people. He said the caregivers make fraudulent Medicaid claims that can cost the program millions of dollars. "These are things that are happening to some of us as parents, some of us our grandparents, but this fraud and abuse is happening to some of the most vulnerable people, I think, in the state of Michigan." Said Jansen. Jansen sponsored a measure to require the licensure of the in-home care agencies. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Rick Pluta The Michigan Court of Appeals has rejected former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's challenge to a lower court order that seizes his book sale profits to pay his restitution to the city. The former Detroit mayor is on a national tour to promote the personal chronicle of his rise and fall. His lawyers argued that putting all the proceeds into an escrow account until his debt is paid deprived Kilpatrick of his First Amendment rights. The argument is that taking money from the book sales discourages Kilpatrick from speaking about his experience as mayor, his trial, and prison. Michigan law forbids felons from making money from telling their stories until they've taken care of all their restitution and victim's compensation payments. Kilpatrick owes the city 860 thousand dollars. He could appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. Since his release from prison, the former mayor has been living in a Dallas suburb. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
BY RICK PLUTA
Attorney General Bill Schuette is backing some legislative reforms to Michigan's medical marijuana law. He said the law has been taken far beyond what voters intended when they adopted it in 2008.
Bill Schuette opposed the law when it was on the ballot, and his critics said that's why now he is trying so hard to limit its scope. Schuette said the law was poorly drafted, and it's being mis-used by entrepreneurs and not just to provide relief to people with a terminal illness or a painful chronic condition. "This law has been hijacked by drug dealers who want to make money, line their pockets, by selling drugs and making a huge profit." Said Schuette.
Legislative hearings on the proposed changes are to begin next month. The rules would ban marijuana dispensaries near schools and churches, and make it tougher for doctors to prescribe marijuana. Some of the measures would require super-majorities in the Legislature because they would change a voter-enacted law.
BY RICK PLUTA Capital Bureau Chief, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING -- The question of whether Michigan's medical marijuana law allows people who smoke medicinal pot to get behind the wheel of a car or truck is headed for the state Court of Appeals.
Rodney Koon is a registered medical marijuana cardholder who acknowledged that he smoked pot about five hours before he was stopped, but says he was not stoned at the time.
That was in February of last year. He was cited for driving under the influence according to a Michigan law that says a driver is assumed to be impaired if there is any amount of THC in their system. The question is whether the voter-approved medical marijuana law changes that standard, and whether prosecutors have to prove in each case that a medical marijuana user was actually an impaired driver. Attorney General Bill Schuette opposed the medical marijuana law. He said it's poorly written. "It's filled with loopholes and problems and this is a major one," said John Sellek, spokesman for the attorney general.
"I don't think anyone out there would agree that you should be on a schedule one drug and be able to operate a motor vehicle," he said, "but unfortunately what the law has put into place is in complete conflict with other parts of the law that protect people from those who are driving under the influence of drugs."
Others disagree.
"There's nothing poorly written about it," said Steven Thompson, a medical marijuana advocate who heads the Michigan chapter of NORML - the National Organization for Rational Marijuana Laws.
"It's a very simplified law the way that it's stated, and I've been pointing out to these people all along that, technically, yes, marijuana is legal in the state of Michigan," he said.
The argument could ultimately wind up with the Michigan Supreme Court, which is just now starting to see cases asking the justices to settle questions surrounding the state's medical marijuana act.
The Michigan
Supreme Court has dismissed the civil rights lawsuit filed by a woman who was
raped by a sheriff's deputy while being held in jail.
The
victim sued Wayne County and the Sheriff's Department after she was harassed
and raped by a deputy while being held in jail for not paying child support.
The deputy - Reginald Johnson - was fired, charged with a crime, and convicted
of rape.
The
victim said the county and the sheriff's department should be held responsible
because Johnson could not have attacked her unless he was a deputy assigned to
the jail. The county argued there was no way the sheriff could have known or
should have known the deputy was a sexual predator.
The
court's Republican majority ruled that Johnson acted outside his professional responsibilities
and in direct violation of department policies. Democrats on the court
dissented. They said the majority decision undermines protections for victims
of discrimination and harassment, and weakens Michigan's civil rights law.
The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Patrol is planning another "Over the Limit. Under arrest. Drunk driving crack down kicking off August 19th and continuing through the Labor Day weekend.
This decision comes after the fourth of July crackdown reported 218 drunk driving arrests and 49 drug related arrests.
Compared with previous years the number of arrests for drunk driving was down slightly.
Lynn Sutfin is with the office of Highway Safety and Patrol. She said the number of motorists with drug related offenses doubled from previous years. She said this may be as a result of an increased number of Drug Recognition Expert officers.
She said these officers will also be patroling during the upcoming crackdown.
Sutfin- "Actually on August 19th through September 5th we'll be doing a second summer drunk driving crack down and that's going to include the Labor Day holiday and once again we will have enforcement in 35 counties and a little over 200 agencies will have extra officers out on the roadway."
Sutfin said the same amount of officers were out over the fourth of July crackdown. But she said she hopes advertisement of the crack down will encourage people to be more responsible over the holiday weekend.
The state attorney general's office has filed the first charges under the Michigan's updated law against human trafficking. A man is accused of forcing two teen-aged girls in Detroit to become prostitutes.
The man is charged with two counts of inviting teen-aged girls to parties and then forcing them to work as prostitutes, collecting all of the money, beating them for not earning enough, and sexually assaulting them himself. The attorney general's new Human Trafficking Unit is trying to extradite him from California.
A study done last year for the Michigan Women's Foundation found as many as 160 cases a month of girls being sold online or through escort services in Michigan. The study did not track how often teen-aged girls and boys are offered on the streets or in hotel rooms. But human trafficking is becoming more common across the country.
The Michigan Women's Foundation said the new charges and penalties are useful - but the state should also have a "safe harbor" law that ensures people forced to become prostitutes are treated as victims and not as criminals.
Police said the body of a missing
Midland man has been found in Eaton county. A 43-year old Charlotte man has been charged
with murder.
83-year old Seth Thompson was reported missing June 24,
after family members lost contact with him as he was running errands in the
Midland area.
Late
Saturday night, police say Thompson's body was found in Patrick Vercruysse's
(ver- cruse) Eaton county home.
Police have not yet released a cause of death, and they've not
yet confirmed the victim's identity.
However, the Lansing State Journal reports that the Eaton County sheriff
said he's confident the remains are those of Seth Thompson.
The suspect in the case, Patrick Vercruysse has 17 previous
felony convictions.
Penalties for underground dog-fighting rings could soon get tougher in Michigan. The state Senate is expected to vote soon on bills to stiffen penalties for people convicted of dog fighting.
A couple senators who are normally at odds have come together to stiffen penalties against dog fighting in the state.
"I think it's just sickening that a lowlife would think that having dogs mangle each other is a sport."
That's Republican state Senator Rick Jones. He agrees with a Democratic colleague that the culture of dog fighting needs to be eradicated, and it should begin with more serious punishments against people who run the underground rings - including seizure of property and charges of racketeering. Dog fighting has been illegal in Michigan for more than 100 years, and the lawmakers say they know there is still a lot of work to be done to end the problem once and for all.
Starting next year, people who use a common over-the-counter cold and allergy drug will have to show I-D and have their names entered into a law enforcement database. The new law was signed today (Fri.) by Governor Rick Snyder. It also limited how much ephedrine (eh-FED'-rin) or pseudoephedrine (soo-DOH'-fed-rin) a customer can buy in a day. The decongestant is the key ingredient in methamphetamine (meth-AM'-fet-uh-meen) - or "crystal meth."
Van Buren County Sheriff Dale Gribler says the database will help his drug agents keep track of where dealers are operating.
"Our drug enforcement team now will get immediate feedback from the pharmaceutical industry as far as who is buying their product. Typically, to be real honest about this, we know a lot of the players - we'll know exactly where they're at. This will really help us a lot."
The pharmaceutical industry will pay for the cost of developing the database as an alternative to declaring ephedrine and pseudoephedrine prescription drugs.
A state Senate panel will hold hearings soon on whether Michigan should extend its 10-year statute of limitations for charging people with violent crimes such as kidnapping, assault, and murder.
Republican Senator Rick Jones said he understands that extending the statute of limitations does not mean every old crime will be solved.
"Well certainly the colder the case, the more difficult it is for a prosecutor to obtain a conviction. But if somebody comes forward, there's evidence - whether it be scientific evidence or a confession, certainly they should be able to bring charges."
Jones said he wanted to take up the issue after he learned the statute of limitations prevented the Ingham County prosecutor from filing charges in a manslaughter case. The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin hearings when lawmakers return to the Capitol later this summer.
The state Supreme Court said convicted sex offenders must register a domicile with the state even if they have no home address. As we hear from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta, the decision divided the court's Republican and Democratic justices.
The law states that convicted sex offenders have to update the local police within 10 days of changing where they live. Randall Dowdy was charged with violating the law after he was kicked out of a Volunteers of America shelter. Two lower courts agreed it was impossible for Dowdy to comply with the requirement.
The Supreme Court's majority opinion was written by Republican Chief Justice Robert Young. He said the sex offender registry law is meant to help police and the public keep track of potentially dangerous people. He said the law does not require a street address, and information such as a street corner or a park where the homeless sex offender typically sleeps is sufficient. The Democratic minority said requiring a homeless man to provide an address when he doesn't have one violates common sense.
Mason county police are into their third day of searching for 4-month old Katherine Shelbie Elizabeth Phillips. The baby was reportedly kidnapped Wednesday afternoon by her father Sean Phillips. The 21-year old man was charged yesterday with kidnapping, but police say Phillips has not said where the baby is. At a press conference yesterday, police said they're continuing to work on the premise that Katherine is alive.
State voters approved the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act in 2008. In the two-and-a-half years since, medical marijuana users and state and local officials have begun seeking to resolve questions about the law.
Advocates of medical marijuana say the law allows ample room for interpretation. But some state and local officials say portions of the law are very clear.
"I think the law set out a very specific framework in which medical marijuana patients could have marijuana; one is to grow their own, or two, to get it from a caregiver," says Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick. He filed a case against a Mt. Pleasant organization that facilitates the transfer of medical marijuana among legal users.
Burdick initiated civil proceedings requesting the court to close the club. He says the court should answer a very specific question, "whether dispensaries, or compassion clubs, or consignment shops, or whatever you want to call these type of businesses, whether they're able to distribute medical marijuana to individuals other than their patients."
Isabella County Circuit Court ruled that this sort of operation is legal, and Burdick has appealed that decision. The next round of proceedings is pending.
Club operators believe the law accommodates their business.
"Basically, we are a provider of medical marijuana to legally-registered patients," says Matt Taylor, owner of the club in question in this particular case, Compassionate Apothecary of Mount Pleasant. He's also a partner in similar organizations in Traverse City and Lansing. Taylor says his clubs have a total membership of nearly 2200.
Taylor says without operations like his, patients wouldn't be able to access medical marijuana as quickly.
"It seems like the current activities have for the most part channelled it in the direction of legitimacy, and the only thing preventing us from getting further down that road are challenges like Burdick's. I honestly believe that not just CA (Compassionate Apothecary), but there's a few other places out there, that are doing this in a way that benefits the state, and benefits the communities that host them."
While state and local officials say there is some room in the law for interpretation, they also say some of that wriggle room conflicts with other laws.
For example, the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor filed a case against a registered medical marijuana user who drove with marijuana in his system, in violation of the state's motor vehicle code. That case is pending appeal after county district and circuit courts ruled in favor of the driver.
Another challenge is in Shiawassee County. The prosecutor there brought felony possession charges against a registered user who grew his plants in an outdoor dog kennel. The state Court of Appeals ruled the kennel wasn't secure enough.
The American Civil Liberties Union has asked the state supreme court to review this case.
"The ACLU of Michigan has long been an advocate for protecting the rights of medical marijuana patients in Michigan," says ACLU staff attorney Dan Korobkin. His organization is involved in several other Michigan cases involving medical marijuana.
"We're involved in an employment lawsuit against Wal-Mart, we're involved in a lawsuit against several cities in Michigan who have taken it upon themselves to try and ban medical marijuana, even though that's illegal under state law, and we've been involved in advocating for the rights of medical marijuana patients in public housing."
And just as supporters of medical marijuana have some organizations like the ACLU on their side, law enforcement has support in several cases from Michigan's Attorney General.
"Attorney General Bill Schuette is making it a great priority to support county prosecutors across the state who are struggling to ensure public safety in the face of a very poorly-written and vague medical marijuana law," says Attorney General spokesperson Joy Yearout. She says this is the early stage of working out the questions surrounding this law.
"We're at the very beginning stages right here, and there are cases all across the state. Attorney General Schuette is going to continue to work with county prosecutors and use the resources of his office to reign in this law to make sure that it is properly respected and that public safety is ensured."
The specific details of these cases aside, some say there's a philosophical element to consider, too. Some wonder whether these questions ought to be resolved by the courts, or by the legislature.
Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick says he would prefer the legislature to take the lead.
"I wish the legislature would get back at work on fixing a lot of these uncertainties in the Medical Marijuana Act -- they just don't seem to be able to get at it quite yet. So that's why the courts are dealing with this all over the state. That's not the best way to do it -- it just really isn't."
But for now, the judiciary has the first opportunity to resolve some of these disputes -- nearly three years after the law was passed.
State wildlife officials are investigating the shooting of a bald eagle in Genesee County.
The eagle was shot last week near the Gaines Township - Argentine Township line.
"The eagle did have a broken wing as a result of the gunshot wound," said Mary Detloff, spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
The eagle, however, was mobile and eluded capture, she said.
"We had to call in some specialists who handle birds of prey, including sports falconers and wildlife rehabilitators to help us," Detloff said.
The eagle is now being treated by a wildlife rehabilitator, with hopes that it will someday be strong enough to return to the wild.
"If they bird is able to be rehabilitated to the point where we feel it could survive in the wild, the bird will be released," Drtloff said. "If it can't be released into the wild, the eagle will likely be held by the rehabilitator and used in educational or nature programs."
Anyone with information about the case is asked to report it to the DNRE.
Photo (above): The injured bald eagle, after being rescued in Genesee County's Gaines Township on Feb. 17. DNRE officials are seeking information about the shooting.
The Michigan Department of Community Health says a new, dangerous drug is making its way through the state. Users call it "bath salts," but it's a chemical mixture that officials say produces dangerous highs.
David Wade directs the division of Environmental Health at the Department of Community Health. He says people ingest the chemicals simply to get high -- these drugs have no legitimate use, medical or otherwise.
"And in fact, they are derivatives of chemicals that are already controlled substances. These chemicals are derivatives of compounds that are already illegal, and because they resemble parent compounds that are already illegal, they themselves are illegal, as well."
Wade says the drugs cause dizziness and paranoid delusions.
"Most significantly, they appear to be hyper-anxious, hyper-vigilant, very paranoid; they'll describe a number of hallucinations. And the hallucinations are very, very disturbing, and again, all tend to be similar, in that they're being pursued by something bad: a devil, a demon, an enemy combatant. They all sort of uniformly describe being pursued by something bad."
He says although the mixtures are called "bath salts," they're in no way related to actual Epsom salts or similar products. Wade says that's a misnomer, meant to camouflage the chemicals' real use.
Agencies are moving against these drugs, according to Wade.
"The Marquette County Health Department issued an emergency rule, citing imminent public health danger, as a result of these products, collectively known as bath salts, and went to the one supplier that they knew of in the area, and were able to confiscate all of the material."
Wade says he expects other health departments and law enforcement agencies across the state to follow suit in the coming weeks.
Wade says cases began appearing in Michigan within the last several weeks, having been first reported in Louisiana and Florida. He says one death in Michigan could be potentially related to the drugs.
Officials say it's not yet clear who produces the chemicals.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture is investigating several cases of phony food inspectors that have cropped up across the state.
The scam involves fake food inspectors contacting restaurants and other food establishments to schedule inspections.
About a dozen or so cases have been reported so far.
Jennifer Holton, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, said inspectors will rarely schedule a visit in advance.
"Both state and federal food inspections are usually unannounced just to make sure that proper food safety measures are always in place, and are always being adhered to," Holton said.
Holton said most food establishments have a relationship with their inspectors, and if they suspect someone is posing as a food inspector, they should contact their local health department.
The incidents are now under investigation.
"We're working with our local health departments, as well as with local law enforcement officials to identify the size and scope" of the scam, Holton said.
"Is this one individual, is this multiple individuals? We don't know, so we're working really closely with those folks to address it," she said.
According to Holton, food inspectors will never ask for personal information such as social security numbers or banking information -- and that requests for such information is a sign of a scam.
BY RICK PLUTA Capital Bureau Chief, Michigan Public Radio NetworkMichigan Attorney General Mike Cox and the U.S. Justice Department are suing Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan. The lawsuit accuses Blue Cross of price rigging by forcing hospitals to charge other insurance companies more for the same services. State Attorney General Office Representative John Sellek said it looks like Blue Cross is trying to expand its market dominance in Michigan. "And the way to do that is to drive out other companies. How do you drive out other companies? You make sure customers don't want to go there because their prices are too high," Sellek said. The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Justice Department and the state attorney general, said the result is customers of other insurance companies are forced to pay more. The lawsuit also says it sometimes causes Blue Cross customers to pay more than they have to for medical care at hospitals. Blue Cross Spokesman Andy Hetzel said discount clauses in its contracts actually save Blue Cross's 4-million Michigan customers billions of dollars in medical costs. "The contracts that we negotiate with hospitals in Michigan are structured to provide the deepest possible discounts to Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan members and customers. We believe that promotes health care affordability in Michigan," Hetzel said. Blue Cross has discount clauses in its contracts with about half the hospitals in Michigan. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Detroit. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
By Rick Pluta Capital Bureau Chief, Michigan Public Radio NetworkThe Legislature has voted to keep open the state's "boot camp" for first-time, non-violent felons. Otherwise, the Washtenaw County facility would have been closed Sept. 30 without legislative action. "Closing this facility would have resulted in us having to re-open two prisons within the next two years," said John Cordell of the Michigan Department of Corrections. About 1,200 first-time felons go through the "boot camp" every year, Cordell said. The deal to continue the boot camp also ensures that money for county jails that house state prisoners won't be cut. Cost-cutters targeted the program to save about 10 million dollars in one of the state's most-expensive budgets. But Gov. Jennifer Granholm's administration successfully argued the "boot camp" actually saves taxpayers' money. "(The boot camp) allows the Department of Corrections to save some estimates are 10 to 12 million dollars, maybe even 15 million dollars a year by diverting individuals who may have otherwise gone to prison, but don't need to be in prison to control their behavior and get them back out into society safely," Cordell said. Inmates diverted to the program are paroled after serving 90 to 120 days. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
Authorities in Boyne City continue to investigate the death of an infant. A passerby found the full term infant's remains in a backpack Tuesday.
Charlevoix County Prosecutor John Jarema says investigators' biggest priority is determining the cause of death.
"We first need to know if this infant was born alive. If it was born alive and abandoned, or killed, or suffocated, or injured in any way, that leads the investigation down a certain path, and certain charges. If the baby was stillborn, that leaves the investigation in a different light. That will really dictate where the case goes."
Jarema says preliminary autopsy results may be released Thursday or Friday.
Determining those details will influence what sort of charges may be filed in the case, according to Jarema.
"And of course, then we'd have to determine where this child was born, where this happened. Did it happen in my county? Did it happen in another county? Was it just dumped here from someone who doesn't live here? I mean, all of those things will come to light, but those are less serious charges obviously than a potential murder case or something like that."
The baby's mother has not yet been identified.
Anyone with information should contact the Boyne City Police Department.
Investigators are still piecing together a motive behind the recent serial stabbings in Flint. Prosecutors are building their case against their suspect, who was arrested Wednesday night, as he waited in Atlanta, Georgia, to board a plane to Tel Aviv.
Elias Abuelazam, 33, is being held in Atlanta, awaiting extradition to Michigan, on a charge of assault with intent to murder.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton says Abuelazam is suspected of fourteen assaults in Flint, five of which were fatal.
Two other assaults had been considered part of the spree, but they've since been ruled out - one turned out to be a robbery, and in the other, the victim knew his attacker, and attested it was not Abuelazam.
Leyton says smart police work, cooperation among law enforcement agencies, and over five hundred tips from the public were crucial.
Authorities say an anonymous tip led them to the suspect.
Investigators say they've found Abuelazam's fingerprints at crime scenes in Flint and in Leesburg, Virginia. Officials say, too, that what they call "technological evidence" suggests he was in Toledo, Ohio, around the time a similar assault occurred there.
Leyton says there's not enough evidence at this point to declare whether the attacks were racially-motivated.
Abuelazam is an Israeli citizen who had been living in the United States for over fifteen years on a Green Card.
He now awaits extradition to Michigan, from Atlanta, on what is right now one count of assault with intent to murder.
Police say more charges will follow.
Police in Flint are continuing their search for a serial killer. Authorities believe the suspect is responsible for sixteen stabbings there. Similar crimes in Ohio and Virginia are also under investigation.
In the midst of the investigation, a Facebook profile has been created for the so-called "Flint Serial Killer."
Steve Thompson, is the Sexual Aggression Services Director at CMU. Thompson has worked with law enforcement to profile criminals.
Thompson says it's unlikely the Facebook profile was actually created by the perpetrator, but, he says, the killer might enjoy the attention.
"I would say that he probably enjoys that, if they give him a name. All I've heard is "slasher." I don't know if they've given him some cute name or not. He probably gets off on that. More likely than not, he's enjoying the publicity. More likely than not, he is. If he didn't enjoy it, there's ways to do crime that would be less known to the public."
User comments on the Facebook page range from joking to disgusted.
BY LAURA WEBER Michigan Public Radio NetworkThe proposal from House Democrats included an additional five-dollar fee on traffic tickets, which would generate a few million dollars. That would help pay for crime labs, state troopers and state Capitol security. Republican state Senator Valde Garcia says the fee wasn't a bad suggestion. But the G-O-P wants to balance the budget without any new fees or taxes. "Certainly I'd like to see these other problems solved, but that's the reason why we decided to take that ticket assessment out. Because that's the caucus position." Garcia says most lawmakers agree they would like a budget that preserves the jobs of state troopers, county sheriffs and state Capitol security. But he says all options are up for discussion as they work to balance the budget. © Copyright 2010, MPRN.
For police and prosecutors, their workdays center around criminals and their victims. For the people who have been victimized, their lives often center around working toward a recovery that's long in coming.
We conclude our series of reports on crime victims by talking with a victim advocate and with a woman whose offender is back on on the streets - 15 years after assaulting her.
According to the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, child sexual abuse increased 83 percent between 1980 and 1993.
In Isabella county, Victim's Advocate Debbie Robb knows many of the abused children in her county and she knows the adults who are still stuggling with abuse they experienced when they were young.
Robb says prosecuting a crime takes a toll on the victim. So does returning to life after wards, "I think what people don't understand is the aftermath of what people live with. And I think these are incredible people who survive this and go on and kind of pick it up and move on, but they are dealing with so it seems unfair to me, it makes me really angry".
Kristen Palomino knows how hard it can be to get past the crime. When she was in 4th grade she was molested by an uncle. He recently got out of prison after a 15-year sentence, "I saw him on the street and I was like whoa and I turned away and I was like whoa this is reality".
She says she hasn't talked to her uncle since his release. Nor does she plan to. Just seeing him that day on the street brought up feeling she didn't expect, " I was angry I was like I'm an adult and you hurt a child you know and I know it was me but I was like you hurt a child and now you're on the streets and I'm thinking wow watch out for these other kids".
Palomino says when she was little her uncle showed her special attention. He took her places and bought her things. She says that was the first step in setting her up to be abused. She says after he gained her trust, he broke it when he began to molest her, and that's when he turned to threats. He said he'd kill her family if she told anyone what he'd done. Palomino believed him, "When you're threatened, that's your Mom and Dad and that's your brothers and sisters so of course you don't want them to get hurt so of course you just take on all that abuse because you get trapped".
Palomino says she may never would have told anyone about the abuse except she says it came to light that her uncle was molesting another girl. Police showed up at her house, and her parents asked her if anything had ever happened to her, "I still remember that night and I told them and I was really upset and I remember the police being there and I remember my aunt being there for a while and then she left and it was just like the drama like a huge drama".
Palomino says once she told what was happening she felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. At the same time she couldn't sleep and had to leave school in tears on more than one occasion, "It's a lot to put on a child you know and there's a lot of kids walking around today in society thinking that it is their fault because they were hurt but they feel like it was their fault because they told on this person".
Today Kristen is a foster care worker. She sometimes cares for kids who have also been molested. She says if they're really scared it can help to make safety plans to help them feel more secure. And she says it can help to just let them be kids, "take their mind off it, play a sport, draw, dance you know do some activities because you still are a child this may be a big part of your life but you can still be a child."
15-years after her victimization, Kristen has a daughter of her own. She says even as an adult, it's hard for her to trust people, and she watches her daughter closely.
Since he's been released from prison, her uncle is back in the community. He lives just down the road from the woman he molested 15-years before.
BY LAURA WEBER Michigan Public Radio NetworkIt has been about a month since the MEDC approved tax credits for a Flint-based start-up business, run by a convicted embezzler. Governor Granholm and the director of the MEDC say the new background check policy will help prevent scam artists from being awarded tax breaks. Granholm made the announcement while standing among about a dozen business leaders whose applications for tax credits were accepted. "Everybody's been vetted, everybody passes." The business integrity verification program could subject some businesses and owners to extensive background checks. The state House approved a similar measure, but the director of the MEDC says that bill won't be necessary. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
The Shiawassee Taskforce on Prevention is asking for help from parents to fight underage alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
Cathy Spreug-Emans is the coordinator of the taskforce, commonly known as STOP. She says the group has made efforts to curb these illegal activities.
"We have supplied the scorpion cameras to the sheriff's department. They are little, micro-size cameras that can fit on an officer's uniform or they could be mounted on a dashboard. They are to be used for collecting evidence on underage drinking."
Spreugg-Emans also says STOP uses community advocacy and enlists college students to mentor junior high and high school students to fight underage substance use. She says the state spends nearly two billion dollars every year because of underage drinking -- and rates of traffic accidents related to underage drinking in Shiawassee County are among the highest in the state.
Spreug-Emans says rates of traffic accidents related to underage drinking in Shaiwasee county are among the highest in the state.
"We still have suppliers in Shiawassee County that are still selling liquor to the youth, and they're also selling tobacco to our youth. And we are doing compliance checks regarding that. We're also trying to change the norms in our community - it's not okay to have this going on."
According to STOP, complications from alcohol use are the fourth-leading cause of death among ten to twenty-four year-olds, and the average young drinker begins at age thirteen. Spreug-Emans says the effects of underage drinking, including traffic accidents, cost Michigan around two billion dollars a year.
STOP will hold a town hall meeting at 6 PM tonight at the Welcome Center of Baker College's Owosso campus to discuss the issue with Shiawassee County. More information about STOP is available here.
The Shiawassee Taskforce on Prevention is asking for help from parents to fight underage alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
Cathy Spreug-Emans is the coordinator of the taskforce, commonly known as STOP. She says the group has made efforts to curb these illegal activities.
"We have supplied the scorpion cameras to the sheriff's department. They are little, micro-size cameras that can fit on an officer's uniform or they could be mounted on a dashboard. They are to be used for collecting evidence on underage drinking."
Spreugg-Emans also says STOP uses community advocacy and enlists college students to mentor junior high and high school students to fight underage substance use. She says the state spends nearly two billion dollars every year because of underage drinking -- and rates of traffic accidents related to underage drinking in Shiawassee County are among the highest in the state.
Spreug-Emans says rates of traffic accidents related to underage drinking in Shaiwasee county are among the highest in the state.
"We still have suppliers in Shiawassee County that are still selling liquor to the youth, and they're also selling tobacco to our youth. And we are doing compliance checks regarding that. We're also trying to change the norms in our community - it's not okay to have this going on."
According to STOP, complications from alcohol use are the fourth-leading cause of death among ten to twenty-four year-olds, and the average young drinker begins at age thirteen. Spreug-Emans says the effects of underage drinking, including traffic accidents, cost Michigan around two billion dollars a year.
STOP will hold a town hall meeting at 6 PM tonight at the Welcome Center of Baker College's Owosso campus to discuss the issue with Shiawassee County. More information about STOP is available here.
Filling out brackets to track the basketball tournament is popular, but betting on the tournament is illegal.
Tim Otteman is an assistant professor in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services at Central Michigan University.
He says sports gambling is illegal in Michigan, regardless of the amount involved.
"In most states, it's a misdemeanor, where you would be looking at up to a year in jail and a thousand-dollar fine, if you are just the one placing the bets. If you're the one operating the betting opportunity, that's seen in a much different light, and in most states, you'll see that be potentially prosecuted as a felony."
According to Otteman, sports gambling is legal only in a few states, including Nevada.
Otteman's research addresses the development of illegal sports-gambling habits.
"I just finished looking at fourteen college students, from a variety of places, who are intimately involved in the activity, and how they got involved. And every one of them got introduced by Super Bowl Squares or NCAA tournament brackets."
According to Otteman, avoiding gambling on the basketball tournament is an easy way to prevent the development of an unhealthy habit.
The state prison in Gratiot County is investigating an attack today on two corrections officers. The officers were reportedly stabbed by an inmate Thursday afternoon. The injured officers were taken to the Gratiot County Medical Center. Mel Greishaber, Executive Director of the Michigan Corrections Organization says the officers are in generally good condition, but may be held for observation.
Greishaber says recent state budget cuts have chipped away at public safety in Michigan communities and officer safety in prisons.
" We've been talking about our concerns along with the prosecutors, sheriffs and others about the ambitious or expedited release of prisoners out back into communities. Inside we think it's getting worse too. We've always been doing more with less in recent years, but we're concerned that budget-driven policy or budget pressures are creating a climate where we're doing a lot more with less and that creates an even more dangerous situation in the prisons."
The 51-year old inmate accused of attacking the St. Louis officers was later found dead of an apparent heart attack. He had been serving time for a 1979 murder.
Prosecutors in Michigan are keeping their eye on a new package of bills that would change the state's sentencing law.
Prosecutors held a series of statewide press conferences Tuesday to protest the proposed repeal of Michigan's Truth in Sentencing law. The law mandates that convicted prisoners serve at least their minimum sentence. Supporters of the repeal say eliminating Truth in Sentencing would save the state money.
Isabella County prosecutor Larry Burdick says it's not necessary to change sentencing law to do that. He says Michigan currently spends seven-thousand dollars per prisoner more than surrounding states.
"And that $7,000 difference, if you multiply that by the number of prisoners that we have, around 46,000 and your listeners can do the math. That would be a savings of over a quarter of a billion dollars if we could somehow get our costs in line with what our neighbors have."
Supporters of the Truth in Sentencing repeal say removing the law would give the Department of Corrections better prisoner management tools. For example, the state could offer inmates more time off for good behavior. Prosecutors say the Michigan already has good flexibility with minimum and maximum time set for every prisoner.
Police in Isabella County are asking area residents make sure to lock their doors even if they're home. Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said a man walked into an apartment complex on Deerfield road early this morning. The suspect began checking for unlocked doors and walked into several apartments before sexually assaulting a woman who had been asleep in one of them.
The suspect is identified as an African American man approximately 6-feet tall with a thin build. He believed to be in his late teens to early 20's. Police are bringing in a sketch artist to help identify the suspect. The sheriff says investigators have evidence that they're sending to the crime lab. In the meantime, police are asking residents to be sure to keep their doors locked.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Isabella County sheriff's department at (989) 772-5911
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