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Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Public Safety Officers would like to remind everyone how fast fires can develop as dry conditions persist. As consumer fireworks have become legal in Michigan it is likely that their increased use will result in an increase in fires and injuries. To prevent injuries and fires the following safety tips are recommended:
• Parents and caretakers should always closely supervise teens if they are using fireworks.
• Parents should not allow young children to handle or use fireworks.
• Fireworks should only be used outdoors.
• Always have water ready if you are shooting fireworks.
• Know your fireworks. Read the caution label before igniting. Do not light fireworks near flammable liquids, buildings and vehicles..
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix.
• Wear safety glasses whenever using fireworks.
• Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Soak spent fireworks with water before placing them in an outdoor garbage can.
• Avoid using homemade fireworks or illegal explosives: They can kill you!
• Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department
The use of sparklers is common with children of all ages; however, they burn at over 1200 degrees. Parents are encouraged to follow following sparkler safety tips:
• Always remain standing while using sparklers.
• Never hold a child in your arms while using sparklers.
• Never hold, or light, more than one sparkler at a time.
• Never throw sparklers.
• Sparkler wire and stick remain hot long after the flame has gone out. Be sure to drop spent sparklers in a bucket of water.
• Teach children not to wave sparklers, or run, while holding sparklers.
A few steps of prevention can eliminate a disastrous injury or fire. Further information can be obtained at www.fireworksafety.com and www.NFPA.org.
For more information from the Fire Marshal’s office, please visit: http://www.kalamazoopublicsafety.org/fire-marshall
By authority of: Captain Roberto M. Zuniga
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Roberto Zuniga, Operations Division, 337-8142
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Date: June 21, 2012
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Julie Parsons, Criminal Investigation Division, (269) 337-8139
TWO SUBJECTS STABBED DURING FIGHT, SHOTS FIRED
Kalamazoo, MI: On Thursday, June 21, 2012 at approximately 1720 hours, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers responded to a report a subject that had been stabbed in the 1500 block of Reed Street. Officers arrived on scene and found a 24-year-old Kalamazoo resident with a stab wound to the face. A second victim, a 21-year-old Kalamazoo resident also reported that he had been cut by the suspects. Both individuals were transported to Bronson Hospital where they were treated and released.
While investigating the incident, officers learned that one of the suspects had brandished a shotgun, pointing it at the victims. One of the victims attempted to push the shotgun away and the gun discharged into the ceiling of the residence. Two Kalamazoo residents, age 48 and 50 have been arrested. One suspect has been charged with Assault with Intent to Murder while the other suspect has been charged with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. Both suspects were lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail.
By authority of: Lt. Jeff VanderWiere
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Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Public Safety Officers responded to a total of 5 suspicious fire calls between Saturday June 16th 2012 and Monday June 18th 2012. The first fire was Saturday June 16th at approximately 9:00 pm in the 1500 block of W. Michigan inside a dumpster. Approximately one hour later, officers responded back to the same dumpster which had been relit.
On Saturday June 17th Public Safety Officers responded to the 1000 block of W. Michigan to another fire, this time a trash bin, at approximately 9:00 pm. The fire was extinguished, but another call came in at approximately 11:00 pm that the same bin was on fire again.
The last fire was called in on June 18th, 2012 at approximately 3:30 am in the 900 Block of West Lovell. Responding officers found a garage that was fully involved with fire. The fire marshal was called in for the last fire and it is being investigated as arson.
Date: June 18, 2012
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Julie Parsons, Criminal Investigations Division, 337-8139
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Kalamazoo, MI: On Sunday, June 17th, 2012, at approximately 1:38 a.m., Kalamazoo Public Safety officers responded to a reported armed robbery of Central City Parking located in the 300 blk. of N. Rose. Upon arrival, officers made contact with an employee of Central City Parking who reported that he had just been robbed.
The employee told officers that he was approached by a male suspect wearing a blue bandana over his face. The suspect pointed a black semi-automatic hand gun at the man and demand that he turn over the money. The employee complied and the suspect fled on foot from the scene. A Kalamazoo Public Safety K9 team responded and attempted a track of the suspect which lead to the area of W. Kalamazoo Ave and N. Park St.
The suspect is described as a B/M, 6’0”-6’2” with a medium build last seen wearing a black hat, black long sleeve shirt and black pants.
By authority of: Lt. Matt Huber
Date: June 17th 2012
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
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Kalamazoo, MI: On June 15, 2012, at approximately 5:30 a.m., Kalamazoo Public Safety responded to the report of a house fire in the 900 block of Walbridge. The first officers on scene reported flames showing from the house. Firefighters were unable to enter the building to extinguish the fire because the building was already deemed unsafe.
This incident is still under investigation by KDPS Fire Marshall Jim Williams, the cause of the fire appears to be arson. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Kalamazoo Public Safety at (269) 337-8994 or Silent Observer at (269) 343-2100.
By authority of: Lt. Christopher Franks
Date: June 15, 2012
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Julie Parsons 337-8139
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Kalamazoo, MI: On Thursday, June 7th, 2012, at approximately 12:33 a.m., Kalamazoo Public Safety officers responded to a reported armed robbery in the 1300 block of California Ave. Responding officers located the victim, a 23 year-old male, who reported being robbed by two subjects armed with a gun.
The victim reported that as he was walking from his car to his apartment, he was approached by two subjects in the parking lot of the California West apartments. One of the subjects pointed a silver handgun at the victim ordering him to the ground. After stealing the victim’s wallet and cell phone, the suspects fled on foot. The victim was not injured during the robbery.
Officers began searching the area as a Kalamazoo Public Safety K9 team responded to the scene. Upon conclusion of the K9 track, it is believed that the suspects ran to a nearby vehicle. The first suspect is described as a W/M, 5’7 with a round face wearing a white hat, black hooded sweatshirt and a black bandana over his face. The second suspect was only described as a B/M who also had a black bandanna over his face.
Date: June 7th 2012
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
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Kalamazoo, MI: On May 30, 2012 at 5:37 a.m. Kalamazoo Public Safety responded to an armed robbery at the Circle K located in the 900 block of W Lovell.
Responding officers contacted an employee of the business who reported that two men entered the store, brandished a black handgun, and demanded money. The suspects fled the store with an undermined amount of money.
The suspects are described as two black males wearing dark clothing approximately 20-30 years of age.
The suspects were last seen running south from the store. A K9 track was attempted, but it was believed the suspects got into a vehicle a short distance from the store.
The suspect remains at large. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Kalamazoo Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 or www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.
By authority of: Lt. Christopher Franks
Date: May 30, 2012
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Julie Parsons, Criminal Investigation Division 337-8139
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Kalamazoo, MI: On Monday, May 28, 2012 Sgt. Vanderklok and Public Safety Officer McCall conducted a traffic stop in the 1000 Blk of Garden St. for a loud car stereo. Upon contact with the occupants of the vehicle, the officers encountered a strong odor of marijuana. As officers asked the occupants to exit, PSO McCall observed the driver with a loaded handgun tucked in the waistband of his pants. A file check on the handgun revealed that it had been reported stolen from Portage, MI. After the occupants were detained, officers searched the vehicle and found a large amount of marijuana.
Two suspects, both 20 year-old Kalamazoo residents, are currently lodged at the Kalamazoo County jail on the charges of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a stolen handgun, felony firearm, and excessive noise pending review of this investigation by the prosecutor’s office.
By authority of: Lt. Matt Huber
Date: May 28th, 2012
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
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Date: May 25, 2012
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Bob Zuniga, 337-8142
EARLY MORNING APARTMENT BUILDING FIRE CONSIDERED SUSPICIOUS
At approximately 0100 hours on May 25, 2012, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety received a report of a dumpster on fire next to the Alco Apartment Building located at 1338 Portage Road. Upon arrival, Public Safety Officers found the dumpster fire had progressed into the building itself and flames were beginning to extend to the second floor. Firefighters were able to make quick entry and extinguish the fire inside the building preventing further damage. Due to the quick fire suppression efforts of public safety personnel, damage to the building was restricted to an estimated $10,000.
Approximately 15 residents had to be evacuated by KDPS personnel during the fire; however all were able to return to their respective apartments once the building was deemed safe.
The cause of the fire at this time is unknown however KDPS Fire Marshall Jim Williams is treating it as suspicious. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Kalamazoo Public Safety at (269) 337-8994 or Silent Observer at (269) 343-2100.
By authority of: Lt. Jeff VanderWiere
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Kalamazoo, MI: On Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Kalamazoo Public Safety officers responded to a reported armed robbery in the 700 block of Douglas Ave. Responding officers located the victim, a 23 year-old female, who reported being assaulted and robbed of her purse.
The victim reported that she was approached by two subjects while she was in the Daysha’s convenience store. The subjects engaged in a conversation with her and eventually left the store in a vehicle. As the victim was walking home, she was approached by one of the subjects she had met at the store. The male pointed a handgun at her demanding that she hand over her purse. The suspect struck the victim several times in the head with the handgun after the victim refused to comply. The male eventually grabbed the purse and fled on foot. As the male was running, he dropped the handgun in the intersection of W. North and Douglas Ave. Officers recovered the weapon used which was found to be a facsimile firearm.
Officers began searching the area and located the suspect vehicle leaving the scene as a canine team responded to track the suspect that had fled on foot. During the K9 track, the victim’s purse was recovered; however the male that fled on foot is still at large. He is described as black male in early twenties with a thin build last scene wearing a white shirt and yellow hat. The driver of the suspect vehicle, a 26 year-old Kalamazoo resident, was arrested for his role in the armed robbery and a parole violation. He was lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail pending review of this investigation by the prosecutor’s office.
The victim was transported to Borgess hospital for treatment. Her injuries are considered to be non life threatening.
By authority of: Lt. Matt Huber
Date: May 22nd, 2012
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
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