Robbery at “The Store” in the City of Mt. Pleasant, MI

On January 22, 2019 at approximately 12:36 a.m. “The Store” located at 2128 S. Mission Street in the city of Mt. Pleasant was the victim of a robbery.

A black male, believed to be in his late 20’s, entered The Store and engaged in a conversation with the lone clerk.

The suspect suddenly jumped over the counter knocking the cash register to the floor. The suspect verbally threatened the clerk as he removed an undetermined amount of cash from the register.

The suspect then threatened the clerk with a bottle before fleeing the store in an unknown direction.

This incident was reported to the Mt. Pleasant Police at approximately 1:00 p.m. on January 22, 2019.

The suspect is described as a black male in his late 20’s, over 6’ tall, with a thin beard. The suspect was last seen wearing a black hat with the #1 or #7 on the front, a black and gray hooded sweatshirt, dark gray “Nike” sweat pants, and gray and red basketball shoes.

The Mt. Pleasant Police Department is asking anyone with information about this incident, or the identity of the subject, to call the Anonymous Tip Line at 989-779-9111.

Surveillance video from the robbery can be viewed at facebook.com/mtppublicsafety

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Vaping on the rise among teens

MT. PLEASANT, MI – Over the past several months the Mt. Pleasant Police Department has been closely monitoring the use and accessibility of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), e-juice (vaping liquids) and other nicotine products among middle and high school students. After conducting compliance checks at several tobacco retailers within the City of Mt. Pleasant, three local businesses were cited for Selling Tobacco Products to a Minor (anyone under the age of 18.)

What are e-cigarettes/vape pens?

E-cigarettes or vape pens, have become very popular among middle and high school aged students. They are sold in many different shapes and sizes and resemble a thumb drive, cell phone battery charger or make-up containers, which makes it difficult for parents to identify.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describes e-cigarettes as: A product which allows a user to inhale aerosol containing nicotine and other substances, and at times, marihuana. E-cigarettes are composed of a rechargeable, battery-operated heat element, a cartridge that contains nicotine, and other flavored chemicals (e-juice/vape juice), and an atomizer. When heated, the device converts the contents of the cartridge into an aerosol which is often flavored. The fruity and candy-flavored vape juice is most popular among adolescents.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a 78 percent increase in vaping by high school students, with 3.6 million high school and middle school students now using e-cigarettes.

Vaping misconceptions and health warnings

There are misconceptions that vaping is not dangerous or addictive. The Surgeon General has reported that the use of vape pens, which are nicotine products, do pose a danger.

In youth, vaping can disrupt the growth of brain circuits that control attention, learning and susceptibility to addiction. The nicotine in e-cigarettes and other tobacco products can prime young brains for addiction to other drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine.

Nicotine exposure during pregnancy can affect fetal and postnatal development as well as contribute to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Nicotine poisoning and symptoms

Ingestion of e-cigarette liquids containing nicotine can cause acute toxicity and possible death if the contents of the refill cartridges or bottles are consumed.

One conventional cigarette contains approximately 1 mg of nicotine. Those smoking conventional cigarettes only absorb about 1/10^th of the 1 mg of nicotine. Some manufacturers are producing e-juice/vaping juice with 30-40 + mg of nicotine in a cartridge, which is considered lethal to adults. Nicotine poisoning tends to be more critical in children and adults who are first time users.

Symptoms of nicotine poisoning include nausea, vomiting, increased blood pressure, abnormal heart rate, dehydration, loss of appetite, extreme fatigue, dizziness, headache, gas, anxiety, and hearing and vision changes. Nausea and vomiting are the most notable symptoms in youth.

For a summary of common vaping myths and FAQ’s visit: https://www.fda.gov/downloads/TobaccoProducts/AboutCTP/UCM624891.pdf

Electronic Cigarettes, E-Cigs, Vape Pens

E-Juice, Vape Juice

Vape Juice

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Join the Mt. Pleasant Police to support Toys for Tots

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – The City of Mt. Pleasant Police Department invites the public to help ‘cram a cruiser’ from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, December 17 at Mt Pleasant’s Department of Public Safety.

Attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped, unopened toy to support the local Toys for Tots Drive. The evening includes the chance to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, meet the officers from the Mt. Pleasant Police and Fire Departments, sit behind the wheel of a fire truck, and enjoy hot cocoa and candy canes.

Parking and entrance will be at the rear (south side) of the Public Safety Building, 804 E. High Street.

UPDATE: Suspect Identified in Credit Card Fraud Case

UPDATE: The suspect in this case has been identified. The Mt. Pleasant Police would like to thank the public and local media for their assistance. This is an ongoing investigation, so the name of the suspect is not being released at this time.

The Mt. Pleasant Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a credit card fraud suspect.

A credit card was lost on 09/23/18 and the card owner was alerted to fraudulent charges being made. The owner of the card contacted Mt. Pleasant City Police and a criminal complaint was filed.

Purchases totaling $1500 were made with the credit card at the BP Shell Gas Station, Marathon Gas Station, Menards, and Walmart in and around the City of Mt. Pleasant.

The Mt. Pleasant Police have obtained photographic and video evidence of an unknown male making these purchases. The suspect is a white male between 25 and 35 years old, approximately 6’ tall, light facial hair, glasses, several tattoos on both the right and left forearms, and a tattoo on the left side of the neck.

If you have any information in regards to the identification of this subject, please contact the Mt. Pleasant Police Tip Line at 989-779-9111.

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.

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.

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.