Leland woman arrested for stealing from senior citizen

A 59 year-old Leland Township woman appeared in court to surrender on a felony warrant recently.  Carolyn A. Flees was arraigned on Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult over $1000 but less than $20,000 charges.  It is a 5 year felony.

The victim's bank contacted Adult Protective Services and Leelanau County detectives in August 2012 with a concern that the 85 year-old's account was in the red and unusually large amounts of money had been removed.  Investigation revealed that Flees had been a part-time caregiver for the man for 7 years.  Although she was believed to have been embezzling from the victim for a longer period of time, she was only charged with accepting large amounts of money over a 2 1/2 year period until the issue came to attention of law enforcement in August 2012.

The investigation revealed that over $40,000 was embezzled from the victim from January 2010 until August 2012.  The suspect used the money to pay her own bills and the bills of other family members.  A sibling told investigators that Flees paid $7,000 in medical bills for her and mortgage payments over $8,000 were made by Flees for over a year.  

Because of the victim's mental state and recall capabilities, he is considered a Vulnerable Adult by Michigan statue.  It is not possible to determine from the victim whether the suspect asked for the money or accepted it after he offered to give it to her.  The law protects victims who are unable to make informed decisions regarding their finances and are at risk of being financially exploited.

Flees is scheduled for a preliminary examination of December 20 and remains free on bond. 

TC woman injured in Friday crash

70 year-old Krystyna Z. Jankowska of Traverse City was slightly injured in a single car crash Friday night.  It occurred at 10:30 pm on N West Bay Shore Drive at Dumas Road in Suttons Bay Township.

Leelanau County deputies reported that Jankowska was headed south when she was unable to negotiate a curve due to slippery road conditions and excessive speed.  Her vehicle slid across the road and struck a utility pole on the east side of the road.

She was transported to Munson Medical Center by Suttons Bay Rescue.  Alcohol was not a factor and no citation was issued in the crash.

TC driver goes into the ditch and then to jail for OWI

A 30 year-old man first drove into the snowbank on E Traverse Highway near Morgan Farms and then to jail for Operating While Intoxicated.  The incident occurred at 1:24 am Sunday morning. 

A motorist notified a Leelanau County Sheriff's deputy about the car in the ditch in Elmwood Township.  Upon contact, the driver said he had been in the ditch for 10 minutes and hadn't consumed alcohol during that time.

He showed signs of intoxication and failed field sobriety tasks.  After being arrested for OWI, the man had a .13% Datamaster result.  He was released after posting $100 interim bond pending a District Court appearance Friday.

Woman surrenders on Tribal dog license warrant

Jamie L. Barker-Teller, 38, of Suttons Bay, surrendered at the Leelanau County Jail early Saturday morning on a Grand Traverse Band Tribal Court bench warrant.  Barker-Teller failed to appear at a show cause hearing involving an original conviction of Failing to have a Valid Dog License for a pet.

The defendant was released after posting $100 bond.