Shots fired in Kalamazoo

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:00 pm

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/12/two_arrested_after_shots_fired.html#incart_river

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Two suspects have been arrested after a shots fired incident in Kalamazoo's Edison neighborhood Sunday.

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Assistant Chief Don Webster said shots were fired near Clinton Avenue and Portage Street at 1:46 p.m., but no one was struck nor injured in the incident. Detectives are in the early stages of the investigation and have not determined what led up to the violence, Webster said.

One Kalamazoo man was booked at the Kalamazoo County Jail, and the other suspect was taken to the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home. Police have declined to release further details at this time.

Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:56 pm

The Edison neighborhood is one of those I stay out of after dark.

This was in the news this morning too:

http://www.wwmt.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Consumers-warns-against-39-green-dot-scam-39-38278.shtml

Quote:

PORTAGE, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A news alert tonight for business owners.

A scam is circulating the state and the latest victim is in Portage.

Consumers Energy is calling it the "Green Dot Scam."

Their spokesperson says in the last year they've received 527 complaints statewide.

Consumers Energy says 48 of the 527 people who were contacted by these scam artists ended up getting duped into wiring hundreds of dollars.

Fortunately, the latest victim wasn't one of them.

It was last Tuesday when NV Salon Owner Laura Echtinaw got a call she'll never forget.

"They were from Consumers Energy and that they were going to be shutting off power to the salon in 45 minutes, that they had a tech en route, and there was nothing I could do unless I made a payment of $450 to this payment center," said Echtinaw.

Echtinaw says she got on her smart phone and saw her utility bills were paid, on time.

"And he keeps telling me I need to go to a payment center, that the longer I keep him on the phone, the quicker the power is going to be shut off, and keeps trying to be very scary," said Echtinaw.

Consumers Energy tells us they would never demand payment over the phone and Echtinaw is one of hundreds in Michigan who have been a target of the "Green Dot Scam."

"This is where the customer will get a phone call saying they need to go buy a pre-paid credit card, then they're asked to call an 866 number, and pay using the pre-paid credit card. Unfortunately, the 866 number is the scammer's number and they receive the cash," said Roger Morgenstern, the Senior Public Information Director for Consumers Energy.

As for Echtinaw, she knew something wasn't right.

"And I said, I just want to make sure I know who I'm talking too, and he said his name was Alex White. And then I said what company are you exactly working for? And he says "your mama," and hung up," said Echtinaw.

Consumers Energy says if you receive a phone call like this hang up immediately and call police.

Then call Consumers Energy and tell them what happened so they can work with law enforcement.

Consumers Energy says additionally, the caller does not always specify Green Dot as the card to purchase.

Sometimes they request the customer purchase a Vanilla card which is the same type of card.

Consumers Energy says they recently discovered that both cards now have a website to request money back. If the victim completes the request prior to the suspect transferring the money off of the card, the victim can stop all transactions on the card and will receive a reimbursement check for the money loaded on the card.

Consumers Energy call center representatives (reached at 1-800-477-5050) have this information and provide it to the customer in the event that they have fallen for the scam:

moneyp** Card

Vanilla Card

I wish they had published the number so I could send it to Big-X for his next phone chain. Laughing