KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Twelve people are in custody and 7 firearms are off the streets after a number of traffic stops in the Kalamazoo area.
Kalamazoo Public Safety officers say they received credible information that a group from Benton Harbor was planning to travel to Kalamazoo over the weekend to get payback from a homicide that occurred early Saturday morning on April 11. Authorities were able to identify key persons on both sides of the dispute and conduct targeted enforcement.
The arrests occurred at the following times and places:
- April 18 at 4 p.m. in the 3600 block of West Michigan Avenue: 29-year-old Kalamazoo resident arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, possession of methamphetamines, possession of a stolen handgun, and felony firearm related offences.
- April 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the 4400 block of Stadium Drive: 30-year-old Kalamazoo resident arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamines and felony firearm related offenses. The suspect had a loaded AR-style rifle.
- April 19 at 12:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Drexel Avenue: Nine suspects from Benton Harbor, ranging in age from 17 to 24-years-old, arrested for several charges including carrying concealed weapons, fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing arrest, and conspiracy to commit murder. Four hanguns were located inside of the vehicles. A third vehicle fled from officers, but the pursuit ended and the suspects were arrested in the 1300 block of Princeton Avenue.
- April 20 at 3:30 a.m. in the 700 block of South Howard Street: Officers were called to a report of shots fired and found several spent bullet casings and a loaded handgun. The suspect was spotted during a vehicle pursuit, intentionally crashed the car into a public safety vehicle in the 200 block of Grandview Avenue, and hid under a car in 200 block of West Maple Street. K-9 Axl tracked down the 17-year-old Kalamazoo resident and they were arrested on the charges or fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing arrest and felonious assault.
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety says they would like to thank the Michigan State Police, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, Kalamazoo Township Police, the Western Michigan University Police Department, and the Portage Department of Public Safety for their assistance in the weekend operation.
Anyone with more information on this operation should contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-488-8911, Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 or report online at kalamazoosilentobserver.com.
