Local residents are invited to Brighton this week to participate in a community conversation sponsored by a non-partisan think-tank based in Ann Arbor. Representatives from the Center for Michigan will be at the Brighton Library at 100 Library Drive, on Thursday, December 1st from 5:30 to 7 pm to gather input on Restoring Public Trust in Michiganâs State Government. Some topics to be discussed are state government services, management of the public purse, and oversight of Michiganâs political system. The event is sponsored by Voters Voice of Livingston County. Seating is limited, so reservations are required. Click the link at WHMI.com for more information or to register. (DS)
Public Forum Will Gather Information About Government TrustPublic Forum Will Gather Information About Government Trust
↧
↧
Area Firms to Benefit from Training GrantsArea Firms to Benefit from Training Grants
More than $1.4 million has been awarded to Michigan Works! Southeast to train workers at 27 companies in the Southeast Michigan region. UIS Scada Inc. in Dexter is getting nearly $49,000. Advanced Industries in Chelsea is getting more than $36,000 and Ann Arbor-based Lyons Consulting Group is receiving nearly $27,000. The fund provides competitive awards for training that aims to enhance talent, productivity and employee retention while increasing the quality and competitiveness of Michigan's businesses. Michigan Works! Southeast Director William Sleight says the funding is from the Michigan Talent Investment agency and the grant awards are part of the state's Skilled Trades Training Fund. Sleight says the training will help workers gain skills to help companies "thrive" in the global market. (AP)
↧
New Prevention-Based Senior Reach Program Helping Older Adults New Prevention-Based Senior Reach Program Helping Older Adults
A community-based prevention program is helping identify older adults who might benefit from additional assistance and support but also through community resources. Although housed in the Livingston County Community Mental Health building, Senior Reach is a stand-alone grant funded program through the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. It provides two services, care management and emotional support, for those between the ages of 60 and 100 who reside in Livingston County and there are no income requirements. Care Manager Erica Foley says it involves a strong partnership between local agencies that provide support services, businesses and community minded individuals. Foley tells WHMI most seniors do age well and aging is not viewed as a negative process. She says itâs about recognizing seniors face a unique set of challenges such as grief and loss, mobility changes, the concept of retirement and the potential for loss of purpose so the Senior Reach program really strives to prevent a crisis from occurring.
Some services might include filling out applications for community resources, making phone calls, finding primary care doctors, connecting older adults in the community and getting people attached to senior centers or local libraries. Emotional support comes in the form of a therapist who understands the complexities that come along with aging who will make home visits for six to ten sessions. Foley says itâs a very valuable tool to provide support with various challenges such as grief or loss and adjustment to aging, adding the program can also help someone in their early 60âs start to plan and prepare for things later in life. She says the average person but especially seniors arenât aware of all the available resources in the community so the program connects older adults to those. Housing is a huge component to Livingston County and one identified area of need. Foley commented affordable housing for seniors is lacking locally and will continue as the population ages. She says sometimes people think poverty doesnât exist in the county but in older adulthood, there are a number of underlying factors that can impact the limited income of a senior, and in turn be a barrier to accessing resources.
Foley says the program has been very well received in the community and partner agencies have been really receptive to the idea of having a wraparound-type approach for seniors. She anticipates numbers will continue to increase as more older adults become aware of the program. Individuals can identify someone in need of assistance or either self-refer. The number for the referral line 517-404-0614. (JM)
↧
Brighton Firefighters To Climb Ren Cen For Lung Disease ResearchBrighton Firefighters To Climb Ren Cen For Lung Disease Research
Local firefighters will be taking on a physical climbing challenge in a fundraiser to aid lung disease research. Earlier this year the Brighton Area Fire Authority raised $12,000 in the American Lung Associationâs Fight for Air, tops in the state. At next yearâs event, which is held on February 26th, they are aiming to bring in $15,000. For the event, 35 of their firefighters will put on their full equipment which weighs 65-70 pounds, and climb 71 flights of stairs to the top of the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit. Sergeant Bryan Berry said that the research and money raised in this event over the years has changed the way they fight fires. For example, they make sure they have specialized breathing gear, which is important because firefighters are particularly prone to cancer from breathing in all the bad smoke. Berry said the climb has a way of making them think about the firefighters and first responders from 9-11. He said that while it is bad for them, it was nothing like what those guys went through 15 years ago.
↧
Vaupel Says Energy & Pension Reform Likely In Lame Duck SessionVaupel Says Energy & Pension Reform Likely In Lame Duck Session
On Tuesday, the Michigan legislature goes into a lame duck session, which occurs every two years after the general election. Lame duck is the term for the session which takes place between the Thanksgiving holiday and the first session of the New Year, when newly-elected lawmakers take office. State Rep. Hank Vaupel of Handy Township says the lame duck session this year has an ambitious agenda,. Vaupel, a Republican, expects energy legislation to be considered, with state lawmakers wanting to update the stateâs 2008 energy laws that govern competition in the utility industry. Vaupel also tells WHMI that unfunded, or underfunded, government worker pension liabilities in Michigan cities, villages, townships and counties will likely be addressed. One of the ideas under consideration is pushing new local government employees into 401(k) plans, which was named the No. 1 priority at this year's West Michigan Policy Forum, a gathering of conservative business leaders supported by the DeVos family. It was that same forum that originally pushed right-to-work legislation which passed in the 2012 lame duck session. But pension legislation will not come without opposition. Eric Weber, president of the Lansing firefighters union, told the Lansing State Journal he already pays a tenth of his paycheck toward retirement and while unions are cognizant of their employers' constraints, lawmakers should remember that employees' and retirees' incomes pay taxes and fuel local economies. Vaupelâs colleagues in the state Senate are expected to vote on a measure allowing developers to keep new sales and income tax money made from the redevelopment of contaminated Brownfield sites. Developers say such legislation is needed as an incentive to redevelop large-scale projects. Vaupel is majority vice chair of the house health policy committee and is on the insurance, agriculture, and families, children and seniors committees. He was just elected to a second term in the state house earlier this month. (TT/JK)
↧
↧
Trial Ordered After Highland Twp. Stop Turns Up Unregistered GunTrial Ordered After Highland Twp. Stop Turns Up Unregistered Gun
A trial has been ordered after a Highland Township traffic stop that turned up a gun and a variety of suspicious items.
21-year-old Noah Johnson of Waterford Township waived his preliminary exam in Novi district court last week on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, driving with a suspended license as well as a violation for an improper license plate. He will be arraigned on those charges in Oakland County Circuit Court December 6th. Johnson was arrested October 25th by Oakland County Sheriffâs deputies after pulling over his car at Hickory Ridge Road and M-59. Police say the vehicle, which was slow to stop for deputies, had an improper plate that had no record in the system. They say Johnson told them his license was suspended and he was on probation but kept reaching under the front seat while he was talking to the deputy, who demanded he keep his hands on the wheel.
After being taken into custody, a search of the vehicle revealed an unregistered handgun under the driverâs seat. Also discovered were two pairs of black gloves, a pair of goggles, a knit hat with two small eye holes cut out, six zip-ties in an open plastic bag, two cell phones and a large empty trash bag in the back seat. The valid license plate belonging to the vehicle was also located in the backseat. Search warrants were obtained for both cellphones, which were turned over to the Sheriffâs Computer Crimes Unit for examination.
Meanwhile, Johnson was sentenced earlier this month for a previous conviction of fleeing and eluding police and reckless driving. The judge refused to allow him to wear an electronic tether in lieu of jail time and instead sentenced him to 30 days behind bars. (JK)
↧
Toy Recalls Focus Of Annual Consumer ReportToy Recalls Focus Of Annual Consumer Report
As Michigan parents and caregivers tackle their holiday shopping lists, a new report is reminding them to keep toy safety top of mind.
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group or "PIRG," in its annual Trouble in Toyland 2016 report, focused this year on toy recalls. Consumer program advocate with the group, Mike Litt said more than 40 recalls of toys and children's products have been announced since January of 2015, yet their research found over a dozen of the items might still be for sale. "The ones that we were still able to find online included those that had exceeded the limits on lead," he said. "They were magnet hazards; they also included chargers and batteries that overheated and could cause burns or fires."
Litt said thanks to the efforts of safety advocates, parents, policymakers and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, toys are safer than ever before. But he cautioned that adults should still be vigilant by examining toys for hazards, both those they're considering buying and those already in the home. Recall information is also posted online through the link below. Litt noted that over the past 30 years, the annual report has contributed to more than 150 recalls, as well as regulatory actions. He said that includes a 2008 law that expanded the scope of the CPSC. "It gave the commission more tools to speed recalls of dangerous toys," he explained. "It banned toxic metals and certain phthalates from many types of toys and children's products, and then also required mandatory third-party testing of toys and other children's products by manufacturers."
The recalled items listed in the report that are available online include die-cast metal cars with sharp edges; a "Little Digger" toy that contains excessive lead levels; and a pacifier clip that could break, posing a choking hazard. (Public News Service)
↧
Holiday Open House Celebrates Season Of CheerHoliday Open House Celebrates Season Of Cheer
'Tis the season to be jolly and a holiday open house is planned at a local library next month. The Brighton District Libraryâs Holiday Open House will allow families to enjoy a visit from Santa and some of his reindeer. The afternoon will also feature festive music with the Vintage Strings of Michigan and then caroling and bell ringing by the Ring and Sing with Echoes of Praise Bell Choir. In addition there will be wintry tales, crafts, and refreshments. The Brighton District Libraryâs Holiday Open House is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and will be held Saturday, December 10th from 11am to 3pm. Admission is free. The Brighton District Library is located at 100 Library Drive. For information, call 810-229-6571 ext. 223. (JK)
↧
LETS Transportation To Host 21st Annual Stuff The BusLETS Transportation To Host 21st Annual Stuff The Bus
A local organization is again looking to help out needy families, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities this holiday season. This marks the 21st year that the Livingston Essential Transportation Service will have buses parked outside of Wal-Mart locations in Howell and Fowlerville December 2nd, 3rd and 4th to help those in need. The âwish listâ includes non-perishable food items, clothing, toiletries, gift cards, and new unwrapped toys to be collected for local human service organizations that distribute them to local individuals and families in need. Cash donations are also accepted, which are used to purchase of bus tokens as LETS has a number of passengers unable to afford transportation. LETS Deputy Director Greg Kellogg tells WHMI heâs grateful for the generosity of the community as it really makes the holidays brighter for needy individuals and families but also helps get others where they need to go throughout the year. Kellogg says they always welcome volunteers, who are still needed to help out for various shifts at either Stuff the Bus location. Volunteers will help pass out wish-lists of needed items to anyone entering the store and collect donations on the buses. Those interested can contact Kellogg at 517-540-7843. More information can be found though the attached flyer. (JM)
↧
↧
Fenton, Jackson Kmart Stores Closing In Mid-December Fenton, Jackson Kmart Stores Closing In Mid-December
Several Kmart stores in Michigan are preparing to close next month including one in the local area. Seven stores in Michigan are slated to close December 11th, including locations Fenton and Jackson. Sears Holdings Director of Corporate Communications Howard Riefs earlier confirmed the company was making the difficult but necessary decision to close the Kmart store at 18055 Silver Parkway in Fenton. Riefs said the decision was made since the store was no longer profitable. The closures follow dozens of other Kmart stores that have shuttered in the state since the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection nearly 15 years ago. Some defunct Kmarts in Bloomfield Hills, Woodhaven and other Metro Detroit cities have been resurrected as new enterprises, but vacant Kmart buildings are still scattered throughout the region. Developers say the nature of the aging buildings makes them difficult to fill with other retail since they're often massive structures tailored to house those particular stores. Nearly two-thirds of the 2,165 Kmart stores that were operating in the U.S. have closed since 2000. More than 130 nationwide closures have been announced this year. Photo: Google Street View. (JM)
↧
Redistricting Plan Approved For South Lyon Elementary & Middle Schools Redistricting Plan Approved For South Lyon Elementary & Middle Schools
An elementary and middle school redistricting plan has been approved for the 2017/2018 school year by the South Lyon Community Schools Board of Education. Multiple presentations and community visioning sessions took place prior to the final recommendation being presented by a Redistricting Executive Committee. The board recently approved the redistricting plan as presented, which included some additional administrative recommendations. The final plan will move roughly 200 students to a different school and students will generally attend schools located one mile from their home. Past redistricting plans had shuffled students several miles away and a model was looked at that would move the least amount of children, with portable classrooms remaining at Dolsen Elementary. Further adjustments made to the final plan took into account concerns about socio-economic disparities that were raised in regard to certain schools being perceived as more wealthy or poor. No decision to date has been made to move the Magnet or Target programs, despite committee recommendations based on enrollment projections. The committee noted that if the South Lyon community continues to grow, a new elementary school is inevitable and âthere is simply no way to guarantee this plan will last until a new school is in placeâ. A link to the presentation is below. Photo - South Lyon Community Schools. (JM)
↧
County Officials Preparing For Presidential RecountCounty Officials Preparing For Presidential Recount
Livingston County officials are preparing for a possible presidential recount in Michigan.
On Friday, the campaign of Green Party candidate Jill Stein filed for a recount in Wisconsin and signaled it would do the same this week in Pennsylvania and Michigan. Joan Runyan is the elections coordinator for Livingston County and says they are already discussing contingencies should that come to pass. With 81 regular voting precincts and 21 absentee voter precincts, there will be 102 separate recount efforts in Livingston County alone, each requiring at least two recount team members. Those 204 workers would also likely be joined by poll challengers and witnesses from each party, requiring a venue larger than the clerkâs office itself can provide. Runyan says officials are looking at possibly housing the recount effort, if it happens, at the new EMS facility near the county airport.
Runyan adds that the county will have to pay the upfront costs for the recount with the state later reimbursing them $125 for each precinct, which she says is unlikely to cover the total costs. With 6,300 precincts statewide, Steinâs campaign would be required to pay $787,500 in Michigan alone. Sheâs already raised more than $6 million to pay for all three recounts as well as anticipated legal costs.
The recount, which must be requested by Wednesday, would be overseen by of the Livingston County Board of Canvassers, made up of two Democrats and two Republicans.
Meanwhile, Livingston County Democrats want to make sure that the recount is conducted by Democrats as well as Republicans in order to reassure the public that the process is being conducted with integrity. Party Chair Judy Daubenmier says she has collected the names of local Democrats who are willing to conduct the recount and will be submitting that list to the county clerk today. A one-party recount would lack credibility, she said. (JK)
↧
Men Charged In Stockbridge Sexual Assault Set For Jury Trial In January Men Charged In Stockbridge Sexual Assault Set For Jury Trial In January
The trial date has been postponed until the new year for a Williamston man and a Stockbridge man charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault.
25-year-old Vincent Albert Gentilozzi of Williamston and 32-year-old Jon McClain Martin of Stockbridge were arrested after a lengthy investigation by the Ingham County Sheriff's Office. Authorities originally received a report in March of 2015 that a 17-year-old female had been sexually assaulted by two men in Stockbridge Township. Warrants in the case were finally authorized in September and the 1st District Michigan State Police Fugitive Team then apprehended both defendants.
Gentilozzi faces three counts of 1st degree criminal sexual conduct with multiple variables while Martin is charged with two counts of the same. Each are also charged with a separate count of furnishing alcohol to a minor. Gentilozzi and Martin are both due back in Ingham County Circuit Court for a jury trial that is scheduled to begin January 9th. (JM)
↧
↧
Fowlerville Village Council Looking To Fill Vacancy Fowlerville Village Council Looking To Fill Vacancy
The Fowlerville Village Council met Monday night and decided to take a committee approach when it comes to appointing a new member.
Letters of interest are currently being accepted. A committee has been set up to review letters of interest and interview potential applicants before bringing forth a recommendation to the December 27th meeting. Itâs comprised of newly elected members Scott Schultheis, Kathryn Health and Jerry Bell, who previously served on council. The vacancy resulted after longtime Trustee Carol Hill was elected to the president position in the November General Election and there are two years remaining on her term. Hill, a lifelong Fowlerville resident who has served on the board for ten years, told WHMI she was ready to try something different and is looking forward to working with the new council to do whatâs best for the community. Those interested in submitting a letter of interest must be at least 18-years-old and a Village of Fowlerville resident. Hill says the goal would be to have a new member in place by January 1st.
It appears two former council members who served up until just recently might be interested in doing so again - Cynthia Spagnuolo Salfate and Mary Helfmann. There were four open seats up for grabs in the November election and incumbent Salfate was the low vote getter. Helfmann did not seek re-election and instead sought a seat on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners but did not prevail. During Mondayâs meeting, Councilman Ken Bielous indicated Helfmann would be interested in returning and Councilman Everett DeGrush noted the same for Salfate. Bielous made a motion to appoint Helfmann, but it was voted down after mention of Salfateâs interest.
The majority of members agreed it would be best to proceed with the committee approach to interview all candidates who apply, determine the most qualified and then present a recommendation to Council and ultimately voted to proceed that way. Bielous voted against the committee motion. Various members commented no disrespect was meant to Helfmann or Salfate since both are qualified and able candidates but that they could apply along with others from the public. (JM)
↧
Case Against Howell Man Dismissed In Samurai Sword AttackCase Against Howell Man Dismissed In Samurai Sword Attack
56-year-old Michael Paul Sefton was charged nearly a year and a half ago with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a weapon and as a fourth time habitual offender. The charges stem from the July 2015 incident in which authorities say he attacked another man with a samurai sword.
Sefton rejected two plea deals from prosecutors within the last couple of months and his case was scheduled to go to trial Monday. However the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office dropped the charges against him last week. County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt tells WHMI the victim in the case advised that he does not remember the incident due to a combination of intoxication and blood loss that he suffered as a result of his injuries. Vailliencourt says the victim no longer wished to proceed and wanted the case dismissed. Once the prosecutorâs office evaluated the remaining evidence, Vailliencourt says they âdetermined that the criminal charges could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt without the testimony from the victim describing the incidentâ and based on that evaluation they dismissed the case.
The complainant in the case told authorities he saw Sefton arguing with his girlfriend, calling her inappropriate names and he intervened. Sefton reportedly pushed the man into a pool and then came at him swinging a samurai sword once the man got out of the pool. The man who intervened suffered multiple injuries as a result of the attack, including lacerations to his nose, arms and neck. (DK)
↧
Parents Voice Opposition To Plan That Would Close Southeast ElementaryParents Voice Opposition To Plan That Would Close Southeast Elementary
Parents and staff filled the Board of Education room in the Howell school district to stand against the closure of an elementary school.
Howell Superintendent Erin MacGregor presented the recommendation of a facilities utilization committee to the Board of Education Monday night, also outlining some of the other options they considered. He told the board the recommendation was to close Southeast Elementary and consolidate those students into Three Fires Elementary. He says the recommendation came out of a process that started in September to improve utilization of the Three Fires building, which has slipped to 30% usage this year. Parent Ginger Gray was the first of 20 parents to speak out against the decision. She says the parents were there to seek a solution-oriented exchange for the issues facing the district. Gray said it was much bigger than Southeast and goes way beyond the elementary level. She says there are district wide issues, both immediate and long term and if closing Southeast offered relieve or a solution to those issues, although she would be sad, she would support this proposal. Gray says after reading everything she could get her hands on, she just doesn't see how this addresses the issues that need attending.
Gray was joined by a number of other concerned parents who claimed the district is not looking in the right direction. A number of parents cited the problem that needs to be solved is the number of Howell students leaving under schools of choice. A handful of parents suggested revisiting the option to move the freshmen in with the high school and open Parker as a second high school campus.
MacGregor says he will be looking into the exodus from the district, but the consolidation is a more immediate solution to facilities use. He says he has a very comprehensive plan that he is moving aggressively toward, which is to gather the contact information from families that have left us and to do a comprehensive survey to determine some of those reasons for their leaving. He says he hears different ideas about why some families make different choices, but to get at a root cause, they certainly need to find out the reasons why. MacGregor says he will do that, he will plan for that and he will put action steps to address those things. That doesn't change the reality of where the district is with regards to enrollment. He says that's not going to change overnight and they have some hard decisions to make as a district. He says this is certainly a very emotional one.
MacGregor says the 23 member committee was made up of parents, staff and faculty. He says by combining the schools, the district will save $369,000 each year and utilization at Three Fires would jump to 61%. Despite parent concerns particularly surrounding the districtâs Cognitively Impaired Program, he stands by the committeeâs recommendation and expects the board to take action on December 12th. (DS)
↧
Sheriff's Staff Give Up Shaving to Raise Funds for Good Samaritan's FamilySheriff's Staff Give Up Shaving to Raise Funds for Good Samaritan's Family
A policy that keeps local sheriff deputies clean shaven was relaxed in November and will continue into December to help raise money for charities. In November, 52 members of the Livingston County Sheriff's Department put away their razors to raise money for menâs health, and in December will help out the family of Good Samaritan Chris Alvarado Jr. He lost both legs a few weeks ago while attempting to assist a motorist on Grand River Avenue in Genoa Township. Deputy Kasey Howe says he likes not having to shave, but also giving to the community. He says all year long they have to shave pretty much everyday and it's nice to not have to do that for a month, and at the same time be able to give to charity. Howe says someone had the idea to extend the event through December having everybody pay again. He says the administration said that would be a good idea. Howe says he thinks that's 75% for the deputies and 25% for charity, but while it's nice not to shave that's not the real reason people are doing it. He says the department tries to give back to the community as much as they can. Sheriff Mike Murphy says last month deputies raised nearly $2,600. He doesnât know yet how many of the officers will participate in the fund raiser in December, but says they are enthusiastic about it. Staff participating will pay $50 for the second time to put their razors away for another 30 days. He says so far feedback from the community has been positive. Murphy says the deputies are representative of the community and the public expects to see a clean shaven deputy. He says as long as the men keep their beards trimmed and looking neat, he doesnât mind extending the event. (DS)
↧
↧
Embezzlement Trial Set For March, Two Weeks After Federal SentencingEmbezzlement Trial Set For March, Two Weeks After Federal Sentencing
While one criminal case against an accused embezzler from Livingston County is nearing its end, another is set to begin.
37-year-old Michael LaJoice of Tyrone Township had been set to stand trial in Oakland County Circuit Court December 12th for allegedly embezzling millions of dollars from a Clarkston credit union. However, that has been delayed until March 27th of next year. The adjournment follows Lajoiceâs earlier guilty plea in a federal indictment that charged him in U.S. District Court in Detroit with bank fraud. Court records show he will be sentenced in that case March 14th, nearly two weeks before his circuit court trial begins.
A plea deal indicated that in exchange for Lajoiceâs plea in the federal case, prosecutors will recommend he receive a sentence of between ten and twelve-and-a-half years in prison, with a minimum of five years parole afterward. He will also be required to pay restitution of up to $17.7 million dollars. LaJoice has already met some of that obligation by selling off properties including his $1.3 million dollar home in the northeast corner of Tyrone Township and more than $1.1 million in properties he owned in the Fenton area.
The federal bank fraud charges came after Oakland County authorities charged LaJoice with 14 counts of embezzlement for stealing millions of dollars while serving as the chief financial officer for the Clarkston Brandon Community Credit Union. He turned himself in last January and has been jailed since then. (JK)
↧
Brighton Woman Killed In Two-Vehicle Crash In Tyrone Township Brighton Woman Killed In Two-Vehicle Crash In Tyrone Township
A two vehicle crash in Tyrone Township claimed the life of a Brighton woman this morning.
Deputies with the Livingston County Sheriffâs Office were dispatched around 9:30am on the report of a two vehicle injury crash at the intersection of White Lake Road and north Old US-23. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 74-year-old Brighton woman in a 2011 Ford Fusion was traveling north on Old US-23 and proceeded into the intersection where her vehicle was struck by a 2005 Jeep Liberty traveling east on White Lake Road. The Brighton woman was pronounced deceased at the scene. The operator of the Jeep Liberty, a 50-year-old Fenton man, was transported to Genesys Hospital with what were described as non-life threatening injuries.
Subsequent investigation closed the roadway for approximately four hours. The sheriffâs office says alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors in the crash, which remains under investigation by the Traffic Safety Bureau. Deputies were assisted at the scene by personnel from the Fenton Township Fire Department and Livingston County EMS. (JM)
↧
Fowlerville Man Arrested After Road Rage Incident On I-96 Involving Gun Fowlerville Man Arrested After Road Rage Incident On I-96 Involving Gun
A Fowlerville man is behind bars after a morning road rage incident involving a handgun in the area of I-96 and M-59 in Howell Township.
The Livingston County Sheriffâs Office says it happened around 7:45am and a female caller, identified as a 32-year-old woman from Fowlerville, contacted 9-1-1 to report that a man in a SUV had pointed a handgun at her while traveling on I-96. Sheriff Mike Murphy says dispatchers did a nice job of telling the caller to disengage, get off the expressway and drive to the Sheriffâs Office, where she provided a description of the suspect and vehicle. Deputies were subsequently able to locate and stop the suspect, who was traveling eastbound on I-96 near US-23 in Brighton Township.
Murphy says the suspect was questioned and deputies were able to locate a handgun in the vehicle matching the description that the caller provided. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident and lodged in the Livingston County Jail. The incident report will be forwarded to the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office for possible charges. Murphy told WHMI he doesnât know what particularly started this incident but thinks everyone should have a pretty good clue when they hear the term âroad rageâ - meaning someone is driving aggressively. He commented it seems like these types of situations, not necessarily someone pulling a gun, are happening at least once a week. Murphy says people are angry or fired up, get behind the wheel of a 3500-pound piece of metal and decide it makes them a bit more bulletproof but itâs just a recipe for disaster.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Murphy says people need to pay attention when behind the wheel and not let other distractions or driving irritate them. He says arriving safe is the end goal and âthe road raging and aggressive driving serves no purpose for anybodyâ. The suspectâs name is being withheld pending arraignment. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Office was assisted by the Michigan State Police Brighton Post. (JM)
↧
More Pages to Explore .....
