Man arrested from 2003 case

A 54 year-old man was arrested in Grand Traverse County Sunday on a 2005 probation violation bench warrant.  Stephen M. Thompson who told jail officers he is homeless, was originally convicted of domestic violence in 2003.  Part of his probation was to not consume alcohol and to attend an anger management program.  The bench warrant was issued when he failed to appear regarding the alleged probation violations.  He remains in the Leelanau County jail pending a District Court appearance Friday. 

Fraudsters defeated by Glen Arbor Township man

A man reported that he was not duped by a scammer Sunday.  He said the crook pretended to be his grandson who said he was in trouble in Mexico and needed cash.  The potential victim did not fall prey to the well-used ripoff, knowing that no family members were out of the country.

More than a few county residents have reported that they did not sniff out a scam and did send money to fraudsters who were using this story.  Citizens are reminded to check the location of loved ones before believing the story that they are out of the country and in trouble.  For more tips on this and many other scams, go to the Canadian Mounted Police's website at http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/index-eng.htm.

Friday April 26, 2013

 

3 lodged for contempt of court charges Friday

Three females were given sent to jail for a variety of bond and probation violations in unrelated cases. 

Paola T. Collazo, 33, Suttons Bay, was found in contempt and given a weekend in jail.  She was arrested for Operating while Intoxicated with a High BAC >.17% in May 2012.  She was stopped in Elmwood Township at 2:07 am for erratic driving.  Her blood test showed a .257% blood alcohol level.

Shanda R. Hendershot, 24, Honor, pleaded guilty to Larceny over $200 after being charged originally with Larceny from a Motor Vehicle.  She was re-sentenced to 180 days in jail after a pleading guilty to a probation violation.  Hendershot and Mackenzie W. Blodgett, 28, also of Honor, broke the window of a van parked on LaCore St. in Empire in July 2012.  They stole a purse and DSI gaming system.

Blodgett was found guilty at trial of Attempted Larceny from a Motor Vehicle and is currently serving a 16-30 month sentence in the Michigan Department of Corrections.  Hendershot will serve the 180 sentence in the Leelanau County Jail but is eligible for the Community Corrections program. 

Laura H. Irvine, 46, Northport, was given a weekend in jail for a bond violation.  She was arrested by the Traverse Narcotics Team for Possession and Use of Marihuana in March.

Suttons Bay man arrested on GT warrant

Cody J. Mikel, 26, was arrested Friday morning on a misdemeanor bench warrant from Grand Traverse County.  He was taken into custody and later picked up by Grand Traverse County deputies to serve 10 days there on the probation violation.

Maple City man sentenced to 10 days for stalking

Kevin C. Holman was given 10 days in jail after pleading no contest to stalking.  In September 2012, a woman who he was formerly in a relationship with reported that she and her new boyfriend had received vulgar and unwanted text messages from Holman.  The 39 year-old man continued to contact the two after being told not to have any communications with his ex-girlfriend by deputies.  Stalking carries a potential penalty of 1 year in jail.  Being charged with stalking after being previously convicted is a 5 year Felony.

 

Door to door salesmen reported as suspicious

An Elmwood Township resident reported Friday that 4 door to door salesmen in a white van were suspicious.  The Harry's Road man said they were selling Kirby vacuums and paper towels.  There were no other complaints from citizens nor any reason to believe the 4 were doing anything illegal.  This information is being passed on for citizens' information only.

Leland man reports telephone fraud

A man said someone purporting to represent CitiBank convinced him to give his personal information as well as his wife's social security number Friday.  When he called CitiBank a short time later, they denied ever contacting him. 

Residents are reminded that banks, credit card companies and other financial entities that you deal with already have all of your account information and personal information so they do not need to solicit it from you.  Financial institutions will never call and ask you any personal information by phone, nor will they do so over the Internet.  When you receive such a request, do not give out any personal information.  Call the institution at a number that you have, not one given by the person making the request, if you want to confirm the legitimacy of the request.

The fraudsters are very good at what they do and very convincing to trusting people.  Don't be the next victim.  Don't ever give out any personal information by phone or on the Internet.