Police investigate serial red light violator in Kalamazoo

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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:10 pm

KALAMAZOO, MI -- When Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Pali Matyas viewed the YouTube video flooding his email box Monday morning, he knew immediately what he was seeing.

"I have seen this guy myself on Ninth Street and ON Avenue, by Arbys," Matyas said. "You can hear the car going by, it sounds like a sick lawnmower," he said. As he witnessed the driver cut off other drivers a few weeks ago, Matyas said, "I thought we'll find him in a ditch somewhere."

Instead, he found a 23-minute video collage of what appears to be the same driver running red lights, using left turn lanes to cut off advancing traffic, and committing other traffic offenses.

The creator of the video noted in the Nov. 9 post that "this has been going on for over 2 years now."

Matyas said Monday morning that an officer in Oshtemo Township has been assigned to investigate the matter; the video includes clear shots of the car's license plate. If the driver is charged and found guilty of reckless driving, a misdemeanor "that's a chunk of change," Matyas said, including a big fine and several points on the driver's license. Worse still Matyas said, "when insurance companies see that they drop you like a hot potato or jack up the rates so much there is no point in driving anymore. It's right up there with drunk driving."

Although the YouTube video certainly appears to include damning evidence, and it is not necessary for police to witness every infraction to begin an investigation, Matyas said a full investigation will take place. "You take (YouTube) at face value an you usually end up on the short end of the stick," he said. "But we're on it."

Attempts to reach the creator of the video have not been immediately successful, but at the end of the video, he or she states: "I've seen this car driving like this every day of the week except Friday. ... First started noticing the frequent reckless driver in 2012; finally got a dash cam mount in 2013."

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/11/youtube_of_kalamazoo-area_dail.html#incart_river

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:43 pm

Kalamazoo is starting to look like the Wild West.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:48 pm

What, pray tell, is the reason for the recent obsession with Kalamazoo crime?

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:51 pm

I've successfully Harked Jose's account here at Eater. LOL.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:36 pm

BRUIN wrote:

What, pray tell, is the reason for the recent obsession with Kalamazoo crime?

I'm on a mission to raise public awareness of the political corruption and criminal element that has overrun Kalamazoo. I've never been there, but from what I've read, the conditions are deplorable. Wink

I mean, a guy that runs red lights every day for 2 years? It is apparent that he is the relative of a corrupt cop or seedy politician. Is there no decency left among the good citizens of Kalamazoo? Can they not fight back against the abundance of nefarious cops and politicians, within their own community? Shocked

It's a well known fact that criminals have been running rampant through the streets of Kalamazoo, for years, while the powers that be turned a blind eye. That, sir, is unacceptable. Razz

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:44 pm

^^^[Cliff Claven]It is also a little known fact that "The Spanish Prisoner" was originally known as the "The Kalamazoo Prisoner" and most scammers are originally from that city. [/Cliff Clavin]

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:46 pm

/\/\/\

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:51 pm

My cousin went downtown to protest against a Skinhead rally. A cop's horse stepped on his foot and he pushed the horse. He was arrested for assaulting a police officer.

Must have been Jose's horse.

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