BENTON HARBOR, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A continuing partnership program between the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety (BHDPS) and the Michigan State Police (MSP) has resulted in several new arrests made in the area.
Benton Harbor is part of Michigan’s Secure Cities Partnership (SCP), which is an initiative developed by the MSP to address crime through a comprehensive system of “smart justice,” according to officials.
This program allows resources from the MSP to be distributed in Benton Harbor. Earlier in August, several arrests had already been made through the partnership, including a case involving an illegal gambling ring. A second report of arrests made later that month resulted in several gun and drug-related arrests.
On Friday, September 4, Michigan State Police announced another round of charges brought through the program.
Around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, troopers working the SCP detail were responding to River Terrace Apartments, located on 8th Street, for a report of a disturbance.
Prior to their arrival, a suspect vehicle fled the scene and a description of the vehicle was provided to Berrien County dispatch by BHDPS officers. Dispatch subsequently broadcasted this information to area officers. Troopers later located the vehicle on Colfax Avenue and initiated a traffic stop for not having electronic verified insurance.
Upon approaching the driver, they observed a pistol sitting in plain view on his lap. As the driver complied with a request to exit the vehicle, several other guns were observed in plain view inside the passenger compartment. The driver advised he possessed a Carry Concealed Pistol License (CPL) and said that all the guns belong to him.
A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the following seizure:
- 8 pistols,
- 4 long guns (AR & AK style rifles, and 12-gauge shotgun)
- extended magazines
- 100’s of rounds of ammunition
- 2 body armors (1 passenger wearing one and one in the trunk)
The driver did have a valid CPL, but only one gun was registered to him and he was carrying loaded rifles in the vehicle. He was arrested and lodged for having a loaded long gun and possession of body armor while in commission of a felony. His four passengers were arrested and lodged for a range of charges from CCW to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
More details were revealed upon further investigation.
MSP officials say there was some intelligence that there was going to be a shooting that night. The suspects arrested in the traffic stop are believed to be responsible for the last 10 or more retaliation shootings. The seized firearms appear to match the ballistics evidence recovered from an open homicide investigation and other reported shootings.
The weapons will be sent to the lab to confirm their connection with these investigations.
Since July 21, it is believed (but not confirmed) that this group is responsible for shooting up five houses and hitting or injuring six individuals. From the last reported shooting in the city, 42 fired shell casings were recovered where two people were hit.
Names of the arrested subjects are being withheld pending arraignments. This investigation remains open and ongoing.
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