KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety says its officers seized 15 illegal firearms and arrested 12 individuals on various charges over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
From Friday, September 1 until midnight September 4, they made the arrests and seizures in in 11 separate incidents. Some of the firearms seized had been illegally modified to allow for automatic fire.
(courtesy Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety)
A summary of the incidents is listed below:
Incident #1: On Friday night, officers responded to a business in the 700 block of East Michigan Avenue for an assault. A female reported being pistol-whipped by an adult male in a parking lot. Officers located the vehicle the male was associated with in the parking lot, and a handgun was located in the vehicle. The 31-year-old male was not located however a 27-year-old female was arrested from the vehicle for illegally Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW). Charges are being requested for the male suspect related to the assault and illegal possession of a firearm. The firearm seized was illegally modified to allow for automatic fire.
Incident #2: On Friday night, officers were conducting a directed patrol in the 700 block of West Michigan monitoring a crowd at a local business. Officers on foot observed a male in the parking lot illegally carrying a concealed firearm. The 18-year-old male was arrested without incident.
Incident #3: In the early morning hours of Saturday, officers investigated a domestic violence incident in the 700 block of Mills Street. A 23-year-old female illegally possessed a firearm in a vehicle and shot multiple times at her boyfriend. The boyfriend was not injured and officers were able to locate the female and arrested her for Attempted Homicide and CCW. The firearm was recovered.
Incident #4: On Saturday evening, a KDPS officer conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle speeding in the 1200 block of North Park Street. The occupants of the vehicle attempted to quickly exit the vehicle during the traffic stop. They were detained and officers observed a firearm in the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, a second firearm was located. Two occupants of the vehicle a 22-year-old male and a 24-year-old male were arrested and lodged for CCW and related weapons offenses.
Incident #5: On Saturday night, officers located a crowd and vehicles near Lafayette and Redwood Streets. The crowd and vehicles were involved in Mobile Nuisance Party behavior that included obstructing traffic and dancing on vehicles. As officers were addressing the violations, they observed a 34-yearold female with a firearm illegally concealed on her person. She was arrested for CCW without incident.
Incident #6: On Sunday night, officers investigated another domestic violence incident in the 1400 block of Fox Ridge where an adult female was threatened with a firearm by her ex-boyfriend. The male was located soon after. The 39-year-old male was arrested and the firearm was located in a vehicle. The male was arrested for CCW, Felonious Domestic Violence, Felonious Assault, and Felon in Possession of a firearm.
Incident #7: On Sunday night, officers investigated the third firearm-related domestic violence incident of the weekend. This time, a female reported that she was shot at by her children’s father in the 2700 blk of West Michigan. Officers conducted an extensive investigation and located the suspect back at his residence. Officers seized two illegally owned firearms from his residence. The 24-year-old male was arrested for Felonious Assault and Felon in Possession of a firearm.
Incident #8: On Sunday night, officers were on patrol near the Florence/Woodbury intersection when they located a stolen vehicle. The vehicle fled from officers and a pursuit was conducted until the suspects stopped and fled on foot. A K9 track was conducted for the suspects. Three firearms were located along the track. One firearm was a rifle and the other two handguns that were illegally modified to allow for automatic fire. One 18-year-old male was located and arrested for CCW. The investigation continues for the additional suspects who fled from the vehicle.
Incident #9: On Sunday night, officers observed a subject spray painting property near Drake and West Michigan Avenue. Officers stopped a vehicle nearby that was believed to be involved, a firearm was found to be concealed behind a rear-seat passenger. The 18-year-old male was also intoxicated. The male was arrested for CCW, Minor in Possession, and Possession of a firearm while intoxicated.
Incident #10: On Monday morning, officers investigated the fourth firearm-related domestic violence incident in the 1700 block of Shire Lane. A female reported that she was threatened by her ex-boyfriend. Officers located the suspect, a 25-year-old male. The male had the firearm concealed on his person. He was arrested for Felonious Assault and CCW.
Incident #11: On Monday morning, officers investigated a reported burglary in progress in the 700 block of Academy. An unknown male was attempting to kick in a door. Officers located a 48-year-old male in the stairwell of the building. He was found to be illegally concealing a firearm on his person. The firearm was also reported stolen out of Georgia. The male was arrested for CCW and Destruction of Property, along with concealing stolen property.
KDPS says all of these incidents remain under investigation.
