fbi

The week in Michigan politics: Merit Curriculum, Buena Vista, Rogers and FBI, flooding disaster

Jack Lessenberry, Christina Shockley and Emily Fox — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:20:13 +0000

This week in Michigan politics, Christina Shockley and Jack Lessenberry discuss possible changes to the Michigan Merit Curriculum, finances and teacher layoffs at Buena Vista schools, the possibility of Michigan Representative Mike Rogers being the next FBI director, and Governor Rick Snyder's declaring that nearly a quarter of Michigan is in a state of disaster from flooding.

In this morning's news: MI Rep might join FBI, Palisades leaks into Lake MI, Detroit showing promise

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:27:36 +0000

Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers candidate for FBI director

A group representing FBI agents and retirees says it wants Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Brighton) to be the next FBI director. Rogers worked as an FBI agent before being elected to the Michigan Senate. He was later elected to Congress.

Seventy-nine gallons of radioactive water in Lake Michigan

The Palisades Nuclear Plant shut down yesterday after a release of slightly radioactive water into Lake Michigan. Seventy-nine gallons drained into Lake Michigan near South Haven on Saturday.

"The agency does not know exactly how radioactive the water was, but based on general knowledge of where the water came from there is no risk to public safety," reports Michigan Radio's Lindsey Smith.

U.S. Education Secretary finds promise in Detroit

Yesterday U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Governor Rick Snyder visited public schools in Detroit and a school in the state’s Education Achievement Authority. The EAA is a controversial entity meant to turn around some of the state’s worst public schools.

"US Education Secretary Arne Duncan says he’s “very encouraged” by improvements he’s seen in Detroit schools." reports Michigan Radio's Jake Neher.

FBI agents want Michigan congressman to be bureau director

The Associated Press — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:23:30 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) - A group representing FBI agents and retirees says it wants President Barack Obama to make Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers the next FBI director.

The Brighton Republican worked as an FBI agent before being elected to the Michigan Senate and later to Congress. Rogers is considering whether to run for the U.S. Senate seat opening with Democrat Carl Levin's retirement.

The FBI Agents Association on Monday endorsed Rogers to replace FBI Director Robert Mueller, whose 10-year term was extended by Congress for 2 years and ends in September.

Insane Clown Posse takes F.B.I. to court

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 21:13:17 +0000

Oakland County hip-hop group Insane Clown Posse is taking the Federal Bureau of Investigation to court.

A lawsuit filed in Flint federal district court on Tuesday contends the F.B.I. violated the Freedom of Information Act by failing to turn over information that led the agency to classify fans of the group as a gang.

Wayne County's Ficano censured in "watered down" measure

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:55:31 +0000

Wayne County Commissioners voted today to censure County Executive Robert Ficano, but the vote also exposed divisions within the Commission.

The resolution to “censure the Wayne County Chief Executive Officer” has no real teeth, and it doesn’t mention Ficano by name.

That last fact angered County Commissioner Laura Cox, who sponsored the initial censure resolution. She ended up voting against what she called the “watered down” measure.

Cox called that “pathetic.”

“The Commission has no power to censure, by state law. But I guess we also have no power to ask for somebody to resign, which is exactly what my resolution did. So they feel that that was too strong, obviously,” said Cox.

Cox wants the Commission to put a county charter revision on the ballot. It would ask voters to give Commissioners or other elected officials the authority to remove county officials under certain circumstances.

Commissioner Joseph Palamara said the resolution was appropriate, given the Commission’s limited powers.

“To say that, "you should leave right now," that would have no more authority than Donald Trump walking in here under public comment and saying, ‘Bob Ficano, you’re fired,’” said Palamara.

Ficano’s administration has been under an FBI investigation for months. Several former top aides have been indicted on corruption charges, but Ficano has always denied any personal wrongdoing, and waved off suggestions that he resign.

Detroit police station evacuated

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:15:18 +0000

Update 1:55 p.m.

The Detroit News reports that three police officers have been temporarily quarantined, including the officer who handled the letter and two who were in the immediate vicinity.

The News quotes Inspector Don Johnson of the Homeland Security Unit of the Detroit Police Department:

"The officer who was exposed doesn't appear to be in any pain or distress at this time. At this point, we are treating it more as a hazmat situation rather than a bomb situation."

1:15 p.m.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are responding to a situation at a Detroit Police Station.

The police station at the corner of Schaefer and Grand River was evacuated and a Hazmat team dispatched after a suspicious powder fell out of a mailed envelope. The envelope had no return address.

Hazmat crews are still analyzing the substance.

FBI agent: Hutaree leader had knowledge of explosives

The Associated Press — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:55:35 +0000

DETROIT (AP) — An FBI agent who trained with a southern Michigan militia says he was concerned about the leader's knowledge of explosives.

Steve Haug testified Friday in the trial of seven people charged with conspiring to rebel against the government. He posed as a truck driver in 2009 to join the Hutaree and secretly record conversations.

FBI launches anti-public corruption task force in Detroit

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:35:10 +0000

The FBI is pulling together a multi-agency task force fight public corruption in the Detroit area.

The task force will include several federal agencies, federal prosecutors, the Michigan Attorney General, the Michigan State Police, and Detroit Police.

It’s no secret that public corruption is a major problem in our community," said Detroit US Attorney Barbara McQuade.

Ficano: "I won't walk away" from Wayne County

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:40:36 +0000

(Robert Ficano/Wayne County)

Robert Ficano says he won’t let doubts about corruption in county government distract him from his job.

The Wayne County Executive delivered his tenth annual State of the County address Wednesday night.

FBI report sheds light on Hutaree Militia

The Associated Press — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:25:05 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - The FBI says the strange name of a southern Michigan militia was made up and has no meaning.

Eight people accused of belonging to Hutaree (hoo-TAR'-ee) face trial in February. A defense lawyer wants to know the names of informants who infiltrated the group. A 2008 FBI report that requested an investigation was filed in court this week as part of the request.

The report says Hutaree was a name created as a joke by a son of leader David Stone. The government claims members were scheming to kill a police officer, then attack the funeral. One pleaded guilty Monday to a weapons charge.

The report first detailed by the Detroit Free Press quotes Stone as saying the government creates disasters so the public will thank it for restoring order.

FBI investigating Wayne County government

The Associated Press — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:57:47 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - The head of the FBI office in Detroit says agents are busy investigating corruption in Wayne County government. Andrew Arena says agents were looking at the county before an economic development official was given a $200,000 severance for resigning to take a more lucrative job at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. After much criticism, she lost the airport post and agreed to repay the severance.

Flint tops FBI's most violent cities list

Steve Carmody — Mon, 23 May 2011 23:49:18 +0000

Flint mayor Dayne Walling is not disputing new FBI data that shows his city had the highest violent crime rate in the nation in 2010. Flint set a record for homicides last year. The city’s arson rate also soared topping the FBI’s list in that category too.

Detroit guard held bomb for three weeks

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:19:28 +0000

A package containing a bomb was held for three weeks at the McNamara Federal Building in downtown Detroit. From the Detroit News:

A security officer at the McNamara Federal Building stored a suspicious package that turned out to contain a bomb for three weeks before alerting authorities, said a spokesman for a union that represents guards at the site, who called the incident "a total embarrassment."
"He apparently set it aside," said David Wright, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 918, which represents the Federal Protective Service (FPS) employees, who guard the McNamara and other federal buildings around the country.
"It should have been left in place and he should have called in a canine detection unit to see if they could make a determination about it," he said Tuesday.
The package was eventually placed behind two dumpsters behind the McNamara Building on Michigan Avenue downtown around 10 a.m. Friday. The Detroit Police Department's bomb squad collected the device from there and moved it to Belle Isle, where it was detonated.

An FBI official said yesterday that the device had gone to FBI headquarters in Virginia for additional testing.

Romulus Police Department searched by Michigan State Police

Steve Carmody and Mark Brush — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:18:27 +0000

Update: March 16th, 11:18 a.m.

Michigan State police officials have not provided details on why they searched buildings associated with the Romulus Police Department. State Police Inspector Garth Burnside told the Detroit News that the search warrants were part of an ongoing investigation with the Wayne County prosecutor and the FBI.

The Detroit News reports that the following locations were searched:

the Romulus police headquarters
the home of Romulus Police Chief Michael St. Andre
St. Andre's wife's tanning salon
a building housing Police Department records
and a residence Burnside declined to identify.

The Detroit News spoke with a lawyer who sued the Police Chief and the City of Romulus "over the disappearance of $300,000 worth of auto parts seized by Romulus police." The lawyer's client said the auto parts were in a trailer seized by police.

According to the News, the Romulus police contended there were no auto parts in the trailer and the case was dismissed in January 2010.

March 15th, 11:36 a.m.

The Michigan State Police are saying little about a search warrant served today at the Romulus Police Department. State Police Inspector Garth Burnside would only confirm that state troopers, along with FBI agents and the Wayne County Prosecutors Office served the warrant at 7 a.m. this morning.

Burnside says the search of the Romulus Police Department is part of an ongoing investigation.

He declined to say what is the focus of the investigation.

Growing Grand Rapids neighborhood standing guard against ‘urban terrorist’

Lindsey Smith — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:48:36 +0000

Neighbors and business owners in a growing Grand Rapids neighborhood are standing up against a so-called urban terrorist. Since Christmas Day a number of businesses and a new condo development have been vandalized and struck by arson in East Hills. Dozens of residents have received letters threatening violence if they don’t move out. The letters say old neighbors have been priced out as new developments came in.

Kathryn Caliendo has been volunteering for the East Hill Council of Neighbors for 20 years.

“I don’t like the buzzwords anarchy, or gentrification and I don’t like the word terrorist. This is not political discourse. This is criminal activity. And that’s what I want it to be treated as.”