Mt. Pleasant Police Department Hosts Annual Cram-A-Cruiser Toy Drive to Support Toys for Tots

The Mt. Pleasant Police Department is once again partnering with Krapohl Ford Lincoln to support Toys for Tots through the annual Cram-A-Cruiser toy drive.

Residents and businesses are invited to help make the holidays brighter for children in the Mt. Pleasant area by donating new, unwrapped toys during one of the following collection events:

Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. at Krapohl Ford Lincoln, 1415 E. Pickard St.

Thursday, December 11, 2025, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in front of the Mt. Pleasant Department of Public Safety Building, 804 E. High St.

During each event, Mt. Pleasant police officers will be on-site with patrol vehicles ready to be “crammed” full of donations. All collected toys will benefit the local Toys for Tots program, helping families in need this holiday season.

Those unable to attend can drop off new, unwrapped toys at Krapohl Ford Lincoln or the Mt. Pleasant Department of Public Safety lobby during regular business hours through December 15.

Mt. Pleasant Youth Police Academy Accepting Applications

The 24^th Youth Police Academy is scheduled for July 14 – 31, 2025, (Monday – Thursday) from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. This free, fun, and interactive program offers youth going into grades 6-8, an up-close view of the skills and necessary training needed for law enforcement officials.

Mt. Pleasant Police Officers conduct the program in the manner of a real police academy with values such as teamwork, integrity, compassion, and discipline being stressed. Cadets are required to participate in physical training and complete the same agility tests given to recruits during a standard police academy.

In addition to physical training, the daily curriculum includes hands-on learning, field trips and demonstrations by specialized units such as the SWAT Team, K-9 and DNR. Classroom topics encompass crime scene investigations, traffic stops, marine patrol activities, firearms safety, first aid and CPR, and much more.

Applications are now available at Mt. Pleasant Public Schools and the Division of Public Safety, 804 E. High Street, from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The application deadline is June 6, 2025.

Know Your Neighbors. A message from Director of Public Safety Paul Lauria.

Being neighborly, is not only polite – but your front line of defense in emergencies.

Your neighbors, if they know you, will be the first to notice if something is not quite right.

To make sure your front line of defense is strong, get to know your neighbors.

Talk now, before a problem arises.

Traffic stop leads to drug arrest

On July 10, 2017, an officer stopped a vehicle for failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign. The driver was identified as Christopher Perez, a 32-year-old Grand Rapids man, whose license was currently suspended. The officer re-approached the vehicle and found Perez chewing a green leafy substance later identified as marijuana. Perez was taken into custody for Driving with a Suspended License and Tampering with Evidence.

While at the Isabella County Jail, the officer searched Perez and recovered 12 individually wrapped bindles of heroin stuffed in Perez’s pants. The total weight of the bindles was 11 grams.

Perez was lodged at the Isabella County Jail. Perez was arraigned on charges of Controlled Substance-Delivery/Manufacture Less than 50 grams-second offense notice; Controlled Substance-Possession-second offense notice; Tampering with Evidence; and Operating-License Suspended, Revoked, Denied-second office notice. Bond was set at $800,000/ten percent.

Perez remains lodged at the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department.