4/11/13 - A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for the female Hartland High School student charged with aggravated assault after an attack on another student that was filmed and put on the Internet. The incident occurred on March 12th in a hallway at Hartland High. The video of the incident shows one female student arguing with another before grabbing her from behind, pulling her to the ground, and attacking her. Police say the two girls had been arguing about a personal issue in the assailantâs life during class, and the argument escalated into violence when they got into the hallway. A teacher broke up the fight, but not before the victim suffered a broken nose. The alleged attacker is being charged with aggravated assault, with court records alleging she was armed with a weapon but did not intend to cause serious injury. The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. The girl will be in Livingston County Juvenile Court on April 29th for a pretrial hearing. She has been released to the custody of her mother. (TD)
Court Date Planned In Hartland High School Assault CaseCourt Date Planned In Hartland High School Assault Case
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Sheriff Bezotte Testifying in 1988 Phoenix Murder Sheriff Bezotte Testifying in 1988 Phoenix Murder
4/11/13 - 25 years later, the man believed to be responsible for a Phoenix homicide is on trial and Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte is looking forward to justice. 41-year-old Steven Michael Humelhans is facing first-degree murder for the 1988 armed robbery and fatal shooting of Eric Rice, a 25-year-old Dominoâs Pizza night manager. Rice was taken from the store, shot in the desert and later died on the operating table at a hospital. Bezote worked as a security director for Dominos when Rice was killed and assisted in the investigation although it wasnât until ten years later that a suspect was developed. Bezotte says he received information in 1997 from the father of a woman who was going through a nasty divorce with Humelhans when she turned him in. While they were able to match fingerprints on checks and items taken from the store, prosecutors felt there wasnât enough for a conviction. Then last April, an arrest was finally made. The father who originally reported the information to Bezotte has since passed away so he will be testifying about how he received the information and developed a suspect. He tells WHMI it will be nice to see the family and hopefully provide some closure and justice. Bezotte says it was pretty ironic who brought the case forward into the courts all these years later. He says the arresting officer was actually the son of Pastor Richard Alberta with Cornerstone Church in Brighton. He says J.J. Alberta with the Phoenix Police Department has been working cold cases there and was assigned to the Rice murder. The trial is underway in Maricopa County Superior Court. (JM)
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Woman Charged With Attacking Granddaughter Bound OverWoman Charged With Attacking Granddaughter Bound Over
4/11/13 - A 67-year-old Gladwin County woman has been bound over for trial for allegedly attacking family members and threatening them with an axe. Stephanie Maruszewski was bound over to circuit court at an exam conference Wednesday. The Michigan State Police Brighton post reports that troopers were called out April 1st at 4:30pm to respond to an assault in progress at a home on Dexter-Pinckney Road. A trooper arrived on the scene to find three residents in the home. One of them, a 19-year-old woman, claimed that Maruszewski, her grandmother, had punched her and threatened her with a small axe. The third resident, a 22-year-old man, said Maruszewski had choked him. Neither of the victims required medical attention. Maruszewski was arrested for felonious assault and taken to the Livingston County Jail. She was later arraigned on a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. The male victim was also taken into custody and turned over to the White Lake Township Police on an outstanding bench warrant for failing to appear in court on an alcohol-related charge. (TD)
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Citations & Fines Issued in Fatal Fall From EMS HQ RoofCitations & Fines Issued in Fatal Fall From EMS HQ Roof
4/11/13 - An Oakland County roofing company has been issued safety violation citations and fines in relation to the death of a construction worker who fell off the roof of the new EMS headquarters building under construction in Howell Township. Paul Wrzesinski is a Safety Manager with the Construction Safety & Health Division of the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or MIOSHA. He tells WHMI that Summit Roofing of Lake Orion was issued two citations for the February 18th incident in which one of their employees fell off of the roof that was under construction at the new Livingston County EMS and Survival Flight headquarters, located off Tooley Road near the Spencer J. Hardy Airport. The worker, whose name was never released, was taken by Survival Flight to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Wrzesinski says after a review of the job conditions at the site, they determined the company had failed to have the worker utilize a personal safety harness or other fall-arresting device and that a safety monitor was also not is use at the site. Each of the two citations carries a $2,800 fine, which Wrzesinski says the company has appealed. He says they can twice appeal the MIOSHA findings before the case would go to an administrative law judge. (JK)
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Man Accused Of Larceny and B&E Bound Over To Circut CourtMan Accused Of Larceny and B&E Bound Over To Circut Court
4/11/13 - A Highland Township man charged in connection with a series of vehicle larcenies and breaking and entering incidents has been bound over to circuit court on three of the four local cases against him. 18-year-old Ross Dimercurio is charged locally with 2nd degree home invasion and two counts each of breaking and entering and larceny from a motor vehicle for several incidents in January. Those charges were divided among four different cases in Livingston County District Court, and three of those cases were bound over to circuit court last week for trial. All three are scheduled for a pretrial hearing on April 26th and have a trial date of May 20th. The fourth case is scheduled for a status conference and jury selection in district court on May 2nd. Meanwhile, Dimercurio faces eleven different charges in Oakland County, including felony firearms. His co-defendant there, 18-year-old Devin Newell of Milford, will be sentenced later this month after pleading guilty to nine charges including breaking and entering and larceny. Police say the pair targeted unlocked vehicles in residential areas in Brighton and Hartland Townships during the late night and early morning hours. They were eventually busted by police at a local pawn store and found to be in possession of the majority of stolen property as well as large amount of stolen prescription pills. (TD)
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Highland Township Signs On To Program To Fight West Nile VirusHighland Township Signs On To Program To Fight West Nile Virus
4/11/13 - After several cases of West Nile Virus struck in the area last year, Highland Township is preparing to combat the disease this year. West Nile Virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, produces a variety of symptoms including headache and fever, and can result in neurological disease or death in vulnerable individuals. Oakland County offers a program that will reimburse participating municipalities for whatever they spend on combating the disease. With several reported cases of West Nile in 2012, the Highland Township Board voted unanimously last night to take advantage of the program. Supervisor Rick Hamill tells WHMI that the township is planning different levels of response depending on the spread of West Nile this year. He says the first step in fighting the disease is education, beginning with pamphlets that will be distributed by the township to residents. They will explain what the virus is, how it spreads, and steps that can be taken to reduce the local mosquito population and exposure to West Nile. These include getting rid of objects like old tires that can create standing water, which is a natural breeding ground for both mosquitoes and the virus. If cases of West Nile start cropping up regularly, Hamill says the township may turn to eradication methods such as spraying to combat the mosquito population. (TD)
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Residents Advised to Prepare Before Severe Weather Strikes Residents Advised to Prepare Before Severe Weather Strikes
4/11/13 - Itâs severe weather awareness week across Michigan and local residents are being encouraged to prepare and protect themselves before it strikes. Typically severe weather season starts in April, peaks in June and July and then lessens in the fall but events are un-predictable and can happen at any time. Last year marked significant tornado outbreaks and flooding events, with an EF3 tornado touching down in Dexter last March. That was followed in May by massive flooding in the Flint area, which had 5 to 8 inches of rain during one night that led to roughly $10 (m) million in damages and evacuations due to the high flood waters. Because spring and summer frequently bring fast-changing conditions and the unexpected, Meteorologist Rich Pollman with the National Weather Serviceâs White Lake Office says now is a good time to develop your family or workforce preparedness plan so that when and if severe weather does strike, everyone knows what to do. Pollman says in case you are affected by severe weather or lose power; itâs a good idea to have necessary supplies on hand for 72 hours, whether cash, medicine, baby needs or a flashlight. Underneath a basement stairwell is the safest place to be but if thatâs not an option, Pollman says get the lowest floor of the building or home and put as many walls between you and the tornado as possible for the most protection â whether that be a small closet, hallway or bathroom that does not have an outside wall. Improvements have also been made to the overall message warning system following years of assessments, which Pollman says allows them to get information out to emergency managers, the media and therefore the public so everyone can better understand the threat level of each storm and seek appropriate action. He says clear details that apply to a specific area as well as those more borderline are contained in warnings while new emergency alerts on cellphones that provide flash flood and tornado warnings add extra protection. (JM)
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Exam to Determine if Robbery Case Against Local Man Will ProceedExam to Determine if Robbery Case Against Local Man Will Proceed
4/11/13 - An upcoming court hearing will determine if thereâs enough evidence for one of two armed robbery cases against a Brighton-area man to proceed. Phone records and fingerprint evidence will be reviewed by the defense ahead of the May 1st preliminary exam scheduled for 34-year-old David Rentsch in 53rd District Court. In that case, heâs accused of robbing the 7-11 store at Grand River and Pleasant Valley Road in Green Oak Township on March 15th. Rentsch also faces a charge of armed robbery for the hold-up of the BP gas station on Grand River in Brighton, which occurred three days after the 7-11 incident. In both instances, police allege that Rentsch would walk in, display a handgun, demand money and then flee after receiving an undetermined amount of cash. He was originally taken into custody after the Brighton robbery, when police spotted him near the BECC building. That case is set for trial next month, unless a plea deal is reached prior. (JM)
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Howell Kids Will Swim with Sharks, Mermaids & DolphinsHowell Kids Will Swim with Sharks, Mermaids & Dolphins
4/12/13 - The closest a kid can get to become a real mermaid or shark will be offered during an event in Howell this weekend. A mermaid theme has been going on at the Howell Aquatic Center lately, which will continue into Sunday. Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority Assistant Director Beth Schraeder says theyâre bringing in a professional mermaid by the name of Serena and kids can not only swim along with her but put on fins to become a mermaid, shark or dolphin and have some underwater photos taken with a shipwreck. The family event has no age limit but is geared toward children. It starts at noon this Sunday and the cost is $9 per child. For more information, click on the attachment below. (JM)
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Bowling Fundraiser Seeks To Help Local Teen With CancerBowling Fundraiser Seeks To Help Local Teen With Cancer
4/12/13 - A bowling event early next month will raise funds to help a former Howell High School student who has been diagnosed with cancer. Howell teenager Zac Cain went into remission since he was first diagnosed with cancer, but the disease has since returned and his family is seeking the publicâs help paying the bills for his treatment at the University of Michigan hospital. Friends of the family have organized a fundraiser planned to take place Saturday, May 4th at the Howell Bowledrome from 12 to 3pm. Organizer Karl Swan tells WHMI the Cain family will get all the proceeds from the event, which will include silent auctions, prizes, and food included with the $25 entry fee, as well as specialized tee shirts donated by J.J. Jinkleheimer in Howell that can be purchased for $10. Swan says they do not have a fundraising target in mind but do hope to raise at least $4,000 to $5,000. Swan says they have filled about half the available space so far. Signup and payments are due by April 20th. To reserve a spot, contact Karl Swan at (810) 599-6654 or Karen Swan at (810) 923-8256. (TD)
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Grant Allows Hartland-Deerfield Authority to Launch New ProgramGrant Allows Hartland-Deerfield Authority to Launch New Program
4/12/13 - The Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority has been selected to receive some federal grant funding that will not only benefit the department but the entire area. The grant was submitted last summer and officials just received word yesterday that they were selected to receive around $51,000 in federal funds, with a required 10% match from the authority. Fire Chief Adam Carroll says the funding is designed to get them off the ground with an incident management training program. A portion of the funds will go toward base coursework for the certification program but he says the majority are designated for building a simulation lab, which is where incident commanders would practice their skills and then test out on managing incidents. He says a video-type scenario runs live time and is interactive in that conditions and circumstances change based on decisions that are made or actions taken. Carroll says the grant was hosted by the department but written as a county-wide project. He adds that the simulation lab is fairly unique and there are only a few across the country. Since itâs a certification program, he says there will be ongoing re-certification to maintain it and others across Michigan and the tri-state area would have access to it. Fire departments in eight Michigan communities are expected to get more than $1.3 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency program. (JM)
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Township, Residents Give Feedback On Planned Church BuildingTownship, Residents Give Feedback On Planned Church Building
4/12/13 - Plans for a new church building on M-59 were reviewed by the Hartland Township Planning Commission and subjected to public comment at a meeting last night. The River Community Church is planning to construct a new 40,000 square-foot building on the southern part of a parcel located between Cullen and Hacker Roads on the north side of M-59. The plans were presented to the planning commission last night at a public hearing. It will include three parking lots, two driveways, exterior lighting, and a storm water management system that would be the first in the township to use bio-swales. A few citizens spoke up at the hearing, mostly residents of the adjacent Hartland Estates subdivision. They expressed concerns about lighting, privacy, development plans for the rest of the property, and the close proximity of a driveway and parking to the property line. Commissioner and Township Board Representative Larry Hopkins tells WHMI the commission shared many of these concerns. It recommended that the designers make sure the lighting and traffic have minimal impact on the nearby community, and that the eastern driveway be moved westward to provide buffer room for the homes. The project may lead to an expansion of M-59 around the entrances through the extension of the left turn lane and addition of a turning lane on the north side. The designers will make changes to the plans and could present them to the planning commission for further review as early as next month. They hope to begin work this construction season. (TD)
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Local Chaldean Camp to Build New ChapelsLocal Chaldean Camp to Build New Chapels
4/12/13- A local Chaldean Camp will soon be constructing four new chapels on site. The camp, located off of Kellogg Road, is a part of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese. A site plan for the prayer houses was presented to the Genoa Township Planning Commission at a recent meeting. The commission granted approval of the plan pending minor changes regarding clarification of the locations and number of the new buildings. Camp Manager, Sami Herfy, says the new chapels will be spiritual places and will provide additional areas for prayer. The three-sided chapels will be about 300 square feet, and will be built on the South side of the existing church. The area is a large open space that will also feature multiple benches and a statue of St. Jude. The prayer houses will only be used in the summertime and will not have any sort of electricity. The Chaldean Camp will still need to seek the proper building permits from the county building department, but plans to begin construction very soon. (SO)
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Hamburg Police Reporting More Thefts From Un-Locked VehiclesHamburg Police Reporting More Thefts From Un-Locked Vehicles
4/12/13 - The Hamburg Township Police Department is once again reminding residents to lock up and help prevent future thefts. The department issued a crime alert notifying the community about several reports that have been taken over the past few days of vehicles being rummaged through during night hours. Several of the vehicles had items stolen out of them. Police say all of the incidents occurred in the area of Rushside Drive & Rush Lake Road, which is the subdivision located off of Pettysville Road, north of M-36. All of the vehicles were unlocked at the time they were broken into and police remind the public to lock their homes and vehicles, especially at night. (JM)
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Man Walking on Stilts Makes His Way Into Livingston County FridayMan Walking on Stilts Makes His Way Into Livingston County Friday
4/12/13 - Michiganâs stilt walker has arrived in Livingston County. Neil Sauter is walking 400 miles across the state this spring to raise money for United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan. He kicked off the trek in Dundee Thursday and has since made his way through Ann Arbor and into South Lyon today, then continuing along Grand River. In his most recent Facebook update, Sauter said he made it 20 miles today but called it quits a few miles short of Brighton because he was so tired. Heâll pick right back up tomorrow though at 7am at the Brighton District Library and is encouraging the public to walk along with him. Heâs scheduled to make balloon animals at Bob Evans in Howell at 11am Saturday and then host a noon presentation in the Cobb Hall Insurance Plaza before continuing on into Fowlerville by 4pm. A link to a complete list of stops and updates along his trip can be found below. (JM)
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Feds Say Elias Engaged in "Buy & Bail" Short-Sale SchemeFeds Say Elias Engaged in "Buy & Bail" Short-Sale Scheme
4/12/13 - Federal housing officials have released additional details about the circumstances that led to an FBI raid on the Livonia and Brighton offices of a local realtor. The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, known as Freddie Mac, on Thursday released the affidavits used to obtain the search warrants that the FBI executed February 27th on the offices of Realtor Will Elias. The information was released as part of the lawsuit Elias filed against the agency after they placed his company, Elias Realty, on an exclusionary list prohibiting his firm from taking part in any mortgage they were involved with. Elias says Freddie Macâs actions were unwarranted. However, the affidavits indicate that the FBI began investigating Elias Realty in January of 2012 for allegedly operating a scheme to defraud Freddie Mac through whatâs known as âbuy and bail,â in which homeowners who were otherwise current on their mortgage payments were encouraged to purchase a second home prior to completing a short sale on their first home. The second home purchase was said to be facilitated through Gold Star Financial, which was housed in the same building as Elias Realty and connected to Elias Financial. The affidavit says Elias and his employees would falsely claim that the existing homes were worth âsubstantially moreâ than their market value and that the homeowners intended to keep those homes and rent them out. In reality, federal officials say the homes were worth much less than stated and the intention was always to put them into short sale. Meanwhile, the second home purchase would be completed prior to the short sale, which would negatively impact their credit and prevent such a purchase. As part of the scheme, the affidavit says Elias also received improper short-sale fees from clients through a firm operated by Thomas Glassman, but that in fact, Glassman was Elias and that he had used his mother to sign registration papers for the firm. The affidavits also state that the FBI convinced someone to pose as a buyer while wearing a wire to record the conversation. The transcript of that conversation indicate that Elias discussed how the prospective homeowner should navigate the process of short selling a property while buying a new one, essentially saying they intended to rent out the original home, but then later say they had changed their mind and wanted to sell it. To date, Elias has not commented on the accusations made by Freddie Mac nor have criminal charges been filed against Elias. (JK)
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Howell Township Couple Plead Guilty to Stealing Donation Jar Howell Township Couple Plead Guilty to Stealing Donation Jar
4/13/13 - The Howell Township couple accused of stealing a donation jar from a local store have entered separate pleas in the case. 34-year-old Michael Cory and 28-year-old Tena Cory entered the pleas Friday in Livingston County Circuit Court. Michael Cory pleaded guilty as charged to larceny in a building in exchange for prosecutors agreeing to a 22 month prison cap. Tena Cory pleaded guilty to the same charge, but has the option to withdraw her plea at sentencing. That deal was taken under advisement by the court and her previous $10,000 personal bond was reinstated. Both will be sentenced May 2nd. Authorities say the couple walked into a convenience store at M-59 and Grand River with a child on February 16th. Police say surveillance video (pictured) showed Tena distracting a clerk while Michael stole the collection jar, which was for a girl in Arkansas with Down Syndrome to get a needed surgery. Several members of the community more than replaced the money after hearing about the story. Cory was on parole for a previous retail fraud conviction at the time and is currently incarcerated at a correctional facility in Ann Arbor, where he was taken after his arrest. (JM)
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Officials To Gather In Brighton To Support State PreschoolsOfficials To Gather In Brighton To Support State Preschools
4/13/13 - Several local law enforcement leaders and elected officials will visit the Brighton Community Preschool and Day Care Center on Monday to show their support for early childhood education. The program is being organized by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan, and State Director K.P. Pelleran tells WHMI the event will help demonstrate the importance and practicality of investing in high-quality preschools. She says the law enforcement officials will present a report at the event showing that quality early childhood education makes kids more successful in life and reduces the likelihood of criminal behavior, keeping them out of the prison system and saving money in the long run. The officials invited to the program include County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt, Brighton Police Chief Tom Wightman, US Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, Congressman Mike Rogers, State Representative Bill Rogers, and State Senator Joe Hune. They will take the opportunity to read to the children and hold a press conference to support investment in early childhood education. Law enforcement officials will also urge lawmakers to support Governor Rick Snyderâs proposed $65 million investment in the Great Start Readiness Program, which helps provide quality preschool to Michigan children. (TD)
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Man Enters Plea to Posting Nude Photos of Ex-GirlfriendMan Enters Plea to Posting Nude Photos of Ex-Girlfriend
4/13/13 - A man police say posted nude images of his ex-girlfriend on the internet last April and stalked her online for more than 18 months has entered a plea in the case. 44-year-old Edward John Abdella of Rochester Hills was charged with unlawful posting of a message, aggravated stalking, two counts of using a computer to commit a crime, and being a 3rd time habitual offender. He pleaded no contest on Tuesday to the unlawful posting charge and an added charge of misdemeanor stalking. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. In return, the prosecution has dismissed the other charges and agreed to recommend that he get no jail time, not be put on a tether, and receive a maximum of three years of probation. The court accepted his plea and scheduled his sentencing for May 16th. (JK)
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The Michigan Stiltwalker Arrives in Downtown Howell Saturday The Michigan Stiltwalker Arrives in Downtown Howell Saturday
4/13/13 - Despite a few setbacks, a professional stiltwalker, balloon twister and storyteller traveled into downtown today. 29-year-old Neil Sauter embarked on an 830 mile continuous trip across the state and raised more than $85,000 for United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan last year. He has mild cerebral palsy and this yearâs journey will take him 400 miles but as with all trips, there can be some bumps in the road. He stands 9-feet-tall in the stilts and traveled 20 miles Friday. Sauter said he was pretty tired out following some rocky terrain along Pontiac Trail and ended just short of Brighton. He also experienced a bad hip flexor and couldnât pick up his left leg but still made it into the Howell area. His first stop of the day was Bob Evans for a âdine to donateâ event and he arrived in downtown Howell at noon, where he made balloon animals and visited with local business owners and others gathered. Sauter tells WHMI the level of trust heâs experienced with people has been surprising, noting that everyone has been very genuine and sincere. He always welcomes company along the trip and encourages people to stop and visit if they happen to spot him along his "Walk for No Limits", instead of just slowing down or pulling over to take a picture and driving off. Heâs scheduled to arrive in Fowlerville at 4pm and will head into Lansing on Sunday. A link to a complete list of stops and updates along his trip can be found through the link below. (JM)
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