Update: Bank Robbery

On April 11, 2012 the PNC bank in Okemos was robbed.  PNC has decided to offer a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

If you have any information about this case you can contact Detective Ed Besonen at 517.853.4800, by email at besonen@meridian.mi.us, or submit an anonymous tip by using the link at the right.




We pulled the pictures below of the suspect from the bank's security footage:

Fraud alert: Tax fraud

It’s that time of year again, tax season. When someone thinks of tax season what do they think of? Stress? How about fraud? Right now a crime that is occurring in Meridian Township and around the United States is tax fraud, which is a form of identity theft. In most cases the fraudsters are using the social security number of a victim without the victim even knowing. Sometime the victim just won’t get their return back or after sending in their tax paperwork they will receive a letter in the mail explaining that their taxes have already been filed and that the tax return was sent out.

The IRS does not cross reference every tax return application they receive. Many times unless their computer system shows an error they will not even catch a fraudulent tax return until it has already been processed.

Some steps you can take to insure that you are not a victim of tax fraud:

-Make sure that you do not give out your social security number to anyone unless you can verify who they are. Once the fraudster gets your social security number they can apply for credit cards or tax returns on your behalf.

-Do not carry your social security card with you. Leave it at home in a safe place.

-Run annual credit checks on you and any other adults in you household. Free credit reports can be done at www.annualcreditreport.com.

-Do not respond to suspicious emails, text messages, or phone calls.

-File your taxes early if possible. 

Resources:

Go to www.irs.gov for any additional information.

Current list of licensed vendors

CURRENT LICENSED VENDORS - NONE

CURRENT SALES OR SOLICITING BY PERSONS OR ORGANIZATIONS

NOT REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A VENDOR’S LICENSE:

Alternatives to Chemical Contamination – Joseph Badura – October 27 2011-July 31, 2012

Scott Camiller–Edward Jones Investments – door-to-door introductions – Feb 2012-June2012

Phantom Fireworks of Michigan – Quality Dairy 1799 W. Grand River Ave., June 25-July 4, 2012

You may receive a flyer

Meridian Township residents may receive a flyer regarding reflective signs for their home. The Meridian Township Police Department and the Meridian Township Fire Department are not associated with the person(s) distributing these flyers. Residents are cautioned that such reflective signs do not meet the township ordinance requirements for home address labeling (the Meridian Township Ordinance is cited below). While residents are encouraged to conspicuously label their home address, the person(s) distributing these signs are not endorsed nor associated with public safety providers.

Sample flyer received from a homeowner

Can you help us identify these two people?

On March 20, 2012 at approximately 7:30 PM a female subject attempted to get a forged prescription filled at at the Walgreen's pharmacy for a controlled substance.  It was determined that the female was using a fraudulent ID card and had forged the prescription form.  A male subject was also in the store with her. Below are the pictures obtained of the female and male subjects from the surveillance cameras.

If you know who these people are please contact Officer Kelly Blask at (517) 853-4800, by email at blask@meridian.mi.us or submit an anonymous tip using the link to the right of this page.

New motorcycle helmet law

Senate Bill 291 lets motorcyclists choose whether to wear a helmet if they are at least 21 years old, carry additional insurance and have passed a motorcycle safety course or have had their motorcycle endorsement for at least two years. Motorcycle passengers who want to exercise this option also must be 21 or older and carry additional insurance.  S.B. 291 is now Public Act 98 of 2012.

A detailed description of the bill may be found online at www.legislature.mi.gov.

March 24 - April 6 semi monthly report

To view our most recent semi monthly report click the following link: semi monthly report

Bank Robbery in Okemos

Today, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Meridian Township Police responded to a bank robbery at the PNC Bank located at the intersection of Jolly Oak and Okemos Roads. The suspect is described as a white male in his late 40’s to early 50’s with short brown hair. He was wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt with a white button-up shirt underneath, a blue Detroit Tigers baseball cap with a white ‘D’ insignia on the front, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes. The suspect left on foot in an unknown direction.

No arrest has been made and the investigation is ongoing. Police are seeking assistance from anyone having information regarding this incident. Please call the Meridian Township Police Department at (517) 853-4800 or Crime Stoppers at (517) 483-STOP. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the Department’s website or social media sites.

These are pictures of the suspect during the robbery:

Graffiti in Haslett

The Meridian Township Police are seeking assistance in identifying the people who are responsible in several instances of graffiti which has damaged property in Haslett.  There have been several instances in the last two months in which vandals are leaving "tags" on business property in Haslett.  Several of these incidents appear to be related.  The word "Sonic" has been left in several places along with the letters "JRKE" and "ARKE".  The most recent incident occurred at the Lakewood Apartment complex on Ridgeway near Haslett Road.

If you have any information that may be useful to MTPD please contact Inv. Rick Grillo at 517-853-4800, by email at grillo@meridian.mi.us or submit an anonymous tip using the link at the right of this page.

Do you know these women???

These three females were accused of stealing approximately $700 in cosmetics from the ULTA store on March 29, 2012.  Do you know who they are?  If so, contact Sgt. Andrew McCready by phone at (517) 853-4800, email at mccready@meridian.mi.us or submit an anonymous tip by using the link to the right of this page.

Suspect #1

Suspect #2

Suspect #3

Up-to-date vendor's list

Vending:  Meridian Township issues a license to a person or business for vending and an identification tag to each seller representing the business.  Each seller must wear the identification tag in a manner that may easily be seen.

Canvassing/Soliciting:  Meridian Township does not issue a license or ID tags to persons or nonprofit organizations that are not required by ordinance to obtain a vendor’s license.  However, such persons or organizations are required by the Township’s vendor ordinance (Chapter 64) to “make a license application for purposes of information only.”  I will include on the list the names of persons or organizations that do not have to obtain a vendor’s license but have made the required application. 

CURRENT LICENSED VENDORS - NONE

CURRENT SALES OR SOLICITING BY PERSONS OR ORGANIZATIONS

NOT REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A VENDOR’S LICENSE:

Alternatives to Chemical Contamination – Joseph Badura – October 27 2011-July 31, 2012

Outdoor Expressions – introduction/flyers – November 28, 2011 – March 31, 2012

Clean Water Action – Door to Door donations – January 11, 2012 – April 15, 2012

Scott Camiller–Edward Jones Investments – door-to-door introductions – Feb 2012-June2012

Energy First Home Improvements – Introduction/flyers - David Fisher, Troy Steffes, Jacob James, 

Michael Morse, Brandon Row, Marcus Morse, Drew Legeman, Nicholas Messner – March 21, 2012-April 1, 2012