Overlay Work on Watson and Ridge Street Area

Central Asphalt will be applying an asphalt overlay on the following streets, beginning at 7:00 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2018.

Watson: Preston to Ridge

Ridge: Crescent to Preston

Residents are encouraged to move their vehicles out of their driveways by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Parking is available on the side streets. Parking and traffic on Watson and Ridge will be prohibited during the overlay process. Travel will be restored as soon as the equipment leaves the area.

Residents should place their refuse and recycling out for collection on Wednesday as normal. The haulers have been notified.

Door hangers for the affected residents were distributed on Tuesday, August 7, 2018.

REAL ESTATE SCAM ALERT

Mt. Pleasant, Mich., August 3, 2018 – On 08/02/2018, an officer at the Mt. Pleasant Police Department began investigating a fraud complaint involving Craigslist.

Adam Pringle from Benin Republic, is advertising properties on Craigslist which are legitimately for sale in the Mt. Pleasant area. Pringle’s advertisements contain property information and location and encourages individuals to visit the properties. Additionally, Pringle directs individuals to pay him the first and last month’s rent by electronic payment.

Coldwell Banker brought this incident to the attention of the Mt. Pleasant Police Department and wished to inform the public of the scam. At this time both Coldwell Banker and the Mt. Pleasant Police Department are unaware of anyone being scammed out of any money at this time.

Second breaking and entering suspect arrested

Additional investigation by the Mt. Pleasant Police Department (MPPD) led to a second breaking and entering suspect being identified and arrested.

On July 23, 2018 MPPD received a call of breaking and entering at Movement Vehicles on 210 W. Pickard Street, Mt. Pleasant. This was in addition to two separate breaking and entering incidents which MPPD responded to on July 20, 2018 at Freddie’s Tavern and a July 24, 2018 at The Cabin, both in the City of Mount Pleasant.

Evidence collected from all crime scenes was gathered by the MPPD and shared with the Isabella County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan State Police. Further investigation by the MPPD determined Kyle Wilson, identified as a suspect for the July 20 and July 24 breaking and entering incidents was not the suspect responsible for the July 23 incident.

On August 1, 2018 a search warrant was obtained for a residence in the Rosebush area. The search warrant was executed by MPPD detectives and members of the Bay Area Narcotics Team. Property stolen from the July 23 incident which included a welder and other high value tools were recovered. As a result of this search warrant, 25-year-old Michael Spanne was arrested and is currently lodged at the Isabella County Jail on a four count warrant: Breaking and Entering – a building with Intent, Larceny – $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, Stolen Property – Receiving and Concealing- $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, and Larceny in a Building.

Officer David VanDyke of the Mount Pleasant Police Department explained, “Through additional investigative work, the MPPD was able to identify the incident at the Movement Vehicles business was not related to the other breaking and entering’s.” He continued, “MPPD was able to pinpoint a new suspect, recover property stolen from Movement Vehicles, and take the suspect into custody.”

Mount Pleasant Police were assisted by the Bay Area Narcotics Team, Central Michigan Drug Enforcement Team, and the Michigan State Police K-9 Unit.

Information regarding voting precincts at local school buildings during August primary election

The August primary election takes place Tuesday, August 7, 2018. Several local school buildings of Mt. Pleasant Public Schools serve as local voting precincts. Due to ongoing construction, the following information provides guidance on where to park, which entrances to use and where voting will occur at several precincts.

Ganiard Elementary – 101 S. Adams Street

Park in lots on the east or south side of the building
Voting will take place in the cafeteria

Fancher Elementary – 801 S. Kinney Street

Park in lot on SW side of building (along Kinney Street)
Voting will take place in the gym

Kinney School – 720 N. Kinney Street

Park along Kinney Street
Voting will take place in the gym

Pullen Elementary – 251 S. Brown Street

Park in lot on the east side of the building
Voting will take place in the gym

Vowles Elementary – 1560 S. Watson Street

Park in lot off of Crawford Street
Use doors on NW side of the building
Voting will take place in the gym

Mt. Pleasant High School – 1155 S. Elizabeth Street

Park in lot in the back of the building
Use Athletic Entrance only
Voting will take place in the Auxiliary gym

For more information on voter registration status, voting precinct locations and more, go to www.michigan.gov/vote.

Police arrest suspect in theft of tip jar

On July 8, 2018, officers of the Mount Pleasant Police Department were dispatched to 110 N. Main St. (Pisanello’s Pizza) for a larceny of a “tip jar.”

The surveillance video of the incident was released to the public and media outlets to help identify the two adult males and one adult female involved.

Due to several tips from the public, all three subjects have been identified. The subjects include a 30-year-old male from Farwell, Mich.; a 24-year-old male from Weidman, Mich.; and a 26-year-old female from Ithaca, Mich.

On July 17, 2018 at approximately 2:30 a.m. officers made contact with the 30-year-old male from Farwell and placed him in custody for larceny charges related to the theft. The other two subjects have not been charged.

The 30-year-old male is currently lodged in the Isabella County Jail awaiting arraignment.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department would like to thank the public and media outlets for assisting in the apprehension of this subject.

Mt. Pleasant police seek help to identify larceny suspects

On July 8, 2018, officers of the Mount Pleasant Police Department were dispatched to 110 N. Main St. (Pisanello’s Pizza) for a larceny of a “tip jar.”

The larceny occurred when two unidentified males, one unidentified female and a young child entered the restaurant at 9:35 p.m. on July 8, 2018.

One of the males went into the bathroom while the other male, female and child ordered a pizza under the name “Desirae.”

When the first male exited the bathroom, he interacted with the other male, female and child. The video shows him take the “tip jar” from the cash register counter and flee the restaurant in an unknown direction.

The amount of money taken is unknown at this time.

A witness observed the first male as he was running from the restaurant and concealing a jar under his shirt. This witness asked Pisanello’s Pizza employees if they were missing anything from the restaurant. This is when the “tip jar” was discovered missing.

The male subject is described as approximately 30 years old, short brown hair, thin mustache, wearing black-colored shorts with a red stripe and a blue button up short sleeve shirt with thin white lines.

This incident was captured on video surveillance and is available at www.facebook.com/mtppublicsafety.

Anyone with information regarding the identification of the subjects involved is asked to contact Officer Jeff Thompson of the Mount Pleasant Police Department at (989) 779-6026 or (989) 779-5100.

Mt. Pleasant police warn of money scam

On July 12, 2018, the Mount Pleasant Police Department was contacted by a citizen about a Mount Pleasant police detective’s name being used in a scam for money.

The scam uses a current Mount Pleasant detective’s name and credentials. This person has called potential victims and requested money after threatening to arrest or pursue criminal charges. The scam has been used throughout the state of Michigan.

The person impersonating a Mount Pleasant detective will avoid meeting in person and will request payment through “Green Dot” or some other form of untraceable fund transaction.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department will never ask for any payments by phone.

This incident is currently being investigated by the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

If anyone receives a phone call from someone claiming to be a Mount Pleasant police detective or officer, please contact Isabella County Central Dispatch at 989-773-1000 or 989-779-5100 during regular business hours to confirm the call is legitimate.

Documentary filming to close roads in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, July 7

A production company will be in Mt. pleasant on Saturday, July 7, to film portions of a documentary. As a result, the following roads will be closed for 30 minutes, from 7:30 to 8 a.m., for filming:

Preston from Washington to Franklin
Franklin from Preston to Bellows

Please seek alternate routes during this time frame.

City reminds residents of fireworks regulations and safety

With Fourth of July celebrations quickly approaching, please follow the City’s regulations involving fireworks:

A person may ignite, discharge or use consumer fireworks within the City on the day before, the day of, and the day after a holiday; but not from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m.
The ignition, discharge and use of consumer fireworks within the City are prohibited on all other days of the year.
Additionally, a minor shall not possess, ignite, discharge or use consumer fireworks.
Fireworks shall not be used while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, or during times when a burning ban has been established by the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, MI.

For a list of burning restrictions by county, visit http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/burnpermits/.

City police provide update regarding the suspicious situation in Island Park on Tuesday, June 26

On June 27, 2018, officers of the Mount Pleasant Police Department received information from a mother in Midland, Mich. claiming her son and his friends were responsible for the situation in Island Park on Tuesday evening that led to both parks being evacuated and searched by several area police departments.

The mother indicated her 16-year-old son was part of a club that was filming a role-playing scenario in Island Park just prior to Central Dispatch receiving a report that two male subjects were seen in the park covered in blood and carrying what appeared to be a long gun. She stated she got a call from her son indicating he was coming home from Mount Pleasant and not to be shocked when he got there because he was covered in “fake blood.”

She further explained the group had at least one “prop gun” they were using in the video, and said her son was wearing camouflage clothing.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department assures the community that there is no threat to the public following this incident. The situation has been investigated and determined to be a miscommunication from a “role-playing club” to the proper authorities.

Citizens are reminded to inform public safety officials of actions that may cause the general public concern.