BENTON HARBOR, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Last September, officials with the Michigan State Police (MSP) announced that an ongoing deployment of additional troopers in the Benton Harbor area would continue through December.
The partnership comes by way of the MSP Fifth District Crime Prevention Squad (DCPS).
The decision was initially made in August due to an uptick of violent crime in that area. MSP will continue to evaluate conditions and is prepared to make staffing adjustments as needed.
On Wednesday, officers released an update into the results of that partnership, sharing a list of activities and arrests.
During the month of October, a total of two firearms were confiscated resulting in charges sought against one suspect for carrying concealed weapon (handgun), as well as the apprehension of a juvenile for possession of a stolen firearm (AR-15 style rifle).
The handgun was located by an MSP Niles canine team after a short search. Two additional suspects were arrested for operating while intoxicated and one for possession of heroin.
On October 6, troopers recovered another stolen vehicle following a traffic stop in which all occupants fled on foot.
In summary, 11 arrests were made for the following:
- One – felony resisting & obstructing police officer and multiple warrants
- One – felony possession of heroin
- One – felony resisting & obstructing police officer
- Four – felony warrants with various charges, including kidnapping, interfering with electronic communication, second degree domestic violence, armed robbery and assault with intent to murder
- One – misdemeanor warrant
- Two – operating while intoxicated
- One – juvenile apprehension for possession of stolen firearm
Assistance to other agencies:
- 10/06 – DCPS assisted MSP Niles with trooper-involved-shooting in the city of Niles where a trooper was wounded during gunfire exchange with a suspect.
- 10/15 – DCPS assisted Covert Police Department with a homicide investigation in the city of Covert.
- 10/16 – DCPS assisted BHDPS with a homicide investigation in the city of Benton Harbor.
Community engagement efforts included seeking opportunities throughout the city to continue to engage youth in conversation and establish lasting relationships.
The squad also assisted United Way of Southwest Michigan with distributing hundreds of cases of water to Benton Harbor residents in response to the dangerous levels of lead found in the water system.
