By Jim Bloch
Port Huron police investigated 17 crimes in June that City Manager James Freed characterized unusual or serious in his July management report to the city council and Mayor Pauline Repp. Here are seven of them.
Home invasion and arson
On June 2, a women reported that the father of her children was following her around in a vehicle. Officers drove to the 3100 block of Sturges Street in response to the harassment charge. An officer saw the suspect following the woman and attempted to pull him over. The suspect fled and police called off the pursuit. The officer discovered that the suspect had broken into the caller’s residence, removed items and set them on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The suspect drove by again but fled as officers attempted to pursue him. Officers called the suspect’s cell phone and convinced him to turn himself in. Police took the man, a 28-year old resident of Port Huron Township, to the St. Clair County Intervention Center on charges of home invasion, arson, and fleeing and eluding.
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Stabbed with a screwdriver
On June 6, officers responded to the CVS at 940 Lapeer Avenue where a 44 year old female Port Huron resident had just stabbed someone with a screwdriver. Officers found an injured 43-year old homeless male and a 27-year male Port Huron resident with minor injuries. The woman said she was attacked by a 19 year old female Port Huron resident and brought out the screwdriver to defend herself. The Major Crimes Unit assisted road patrol in the investigation. The victims did not want to press charges. All subjects were released.
Criminal sexual conduct
On June 12, officers responded to the 2400 block of Vanness Street following a call from a 25-year old woman that a man was breaking into her home. Officers responded and arrested a 26-year old male Novi resident who had been dating the woman. The man entered the home through an unlocked bedroom window and assaulted the woman. Police lodged the man in the St. Clair County Intervention on the charges of home invasion and criminal sexual conduct.
Possession of crack
On June 12 , police found a vehicle partially block a driveway on the 700 block of Erie Street. The driver turned out to have a suspended license; the passenger had an outstanding warrant for misdemeanor embezzlement. The passenger, a 30-year old female Port Huron resident, was transported to the St. Clair County Intervention Center, where police from drugs and paraphernalia. Drugs, cash and a firearm were found upon towing the vehicle. The woman was lodged on the charges of smuggling contraband into the jail, possession of crack, possession of narcotics equipment/paraphernalia, and the outstanding warrant. A warrant will be sought on the 51-year old male Port Huron resident who was the driver of the vehicle.
Death on a mini bike
On June 24, police received a report of a personal injury accident at 13th Street and Oak Street on a report of a personal injury accident. Road Patrol, the Criminal Investigative Division and the Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene where CPR was in progress. Witnesses reported that a man was riding the motorized mini bike northbound on 13th Street at Oak Street. He failed to stop at the stop sign entering the intersection and was struck by an SUV headed eastbound Oak Street at 13th Street. The man, 41, of Port Huron, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police called the 37-year old female driver of the SUV, a Port Huron Township resident, “cooperative.” She was transported to McLaren Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Accident investigators from PHPD responded to the scene and the deceased was transported to the morgue by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Unlawful imprisonment
On June 28, officers responded to the Speedy Q at 1301 10th Street to assist a 19-year old female who had been held at gunpoint by a 23-year old male Port Huron resident. The man stole the caller’s purse and held her a gunpoint in his vehicle. She managed to escape and call police. The Major Crimes Unit investigated and located the male at a nearby Exxon station. He was taken into custody without incident after leaving the store. The male was lodged at the St. Clair County Intervention Center on the charges of unlawful imprisonment/assault with a dangerous weapons and larceny.
Heroin death
There were 14 reported drug overdoses in the month of June. Eight overdoses were from heroin, three were from an unknown substance, two were from prescription pills, and one was from methamphetamine. One of the heroin overdoses resulted in death. Two of the heroin overdoses involved the drug fentanyl.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
