Man charged with murder in Washtenaw County shooting
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A man accused of slaying another man near an Ypsilanti Township gas station has been charged with murder. Davion Christopher Brooks, 18, was arraigned May 18 on open murder and firearms charges for the shooting death of Laryus Dottery who was killed Saturday, May 14, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators discovered that one of two suspects involved in the shooting had also suffered a gunshot wound, police said. Brooks is being held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office at 734-973-7711.
mlive.comHomicide suspect arrested after being treated for gunshot wound, police say
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A man died and his suspected killer was arrested Saturday by police investigating a shooting that that occurred in Ypsilanti Township. Laryus Dottery, 19, died Saturday, May 14, after being fatally shot near the BP Dairy Mart on Textile Road near Bridge Road in Ypsilanti Township, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.
mlive.com‘Smoke and mirrors’: Ypsilanti Township facing $125K dark money campaign over marijuana
When that effort fell flat, Ypsilanti Township received another roughly 400 sheets of signatures seeking to bring a separate proposal to voters banning the sale of marijuana in the township, according to township Clerk Heather Jarrell Roe. The structure of the political campaign leaves voters in the dark, according to one expert. The ballot effort “smacks of dark money,” said Simon Schuster, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. Jordan also serves as Ypsilanti Township Citizens for Responsible Government’s treasurer. In Ypsilanti Township, Pernick appears to be working for the opposite cause.
mlive.comGov. Whitmer appoints Washtenaw County leader to lead state commission fighting poverty
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has tapped a first-term Washtenaw County commissioner representing much of Ypsilanti Township and Augusta Township to lead a state commission tasked with fighting poverty. Hodge, a clinical assistant professor of social work at the University of Michigan, has served on the state commission since last year. Hodge, an Ypsilanti Township resident, was elected to the Washtenaw County board in 2020 and is seeking reelection this year. Here are 10 films shot in the city2022 primary election ballot for Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County votersSecurity concern prompted abrupt cancellation of Washtenaw County board meetingDowntown Ypsilanti street given honorary ‘Black Lives Matter Boulevard’ title
mlive.comYpsilanti-area shooting range gets final approval despite concerns over gun violence
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Ypsilanti Township leaders knew they were about to make a zoning decision -- the kind governed by a set of thick and obscure local rules whole teams of staff members help them interpret and enforce -- when they arrived at their board room on Tuesday. But the first thing they heard over the microphone was an appeal to their emotions.
mlive.comAnn Arbor-Ypsilanti transit tax proposal headed to voters
ANN ARBOR, MI — Voters in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area will decide the fate of one of the biggest local property tax increases in recent history in the Aug. 2 primary. With ridership still down, Ann Arbor transit expansion is banking on future demandThe tax is separate from another roughly 2-mill tax Ann Arbor pays and a roughly 1-mill tax Ypsilanti pays for TheRide services. The only person who voted Thursday night against putting the proposal to voters was Ryan Hunter, Ypsilanti Township’s representative on TheRide board. A quick overview of the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti transit tax proposalJesse Miller, Ypsilanti’s representative on the board, noted the five-year millage is the first step in a long-range plan. Susan Pollay, an Ann Arbor representative on TheRide board, recalled the southeast Michigan regional transit millage proposal that went to voters in November 2016.
mlive.com‘I don’t want a Big Brother state’: Sheriff discusses license plate readers in Ypsilanti Township
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton believes license plate readers mounted in Ypsilanti Township could be useful in reducing crime, but it’s not without risks if safeguards are not put in place. License plate readers could be coming to Ypsilanti TownshipYpsilanti Township is considering moving forward with the purchase of stationary automated license plate readers, cameras that can capture license place information from passing vehicles on public roads. The cameras, which would be mounted at every intersection entering and exiting Ypsilanti Township, are not a live video recording being monitored. Instead, they take a single photo of the back of a vehicle capturing its license plate, Washtenaw County Sheriff Lt. Keith Flores said. The presentation can be viewed in its entirety on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.
mlive.com8 families displaced in Ypsilanti Township apartment fire
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Eight families were displaced from their homes early Wednesday evening when a fire broke out inside an Ypsilanti Township apartment building. Fire crews were called at 5:46 p.m. April 13, to The Villas apartment complex, 2911 Bynan Drive near Golfside Road, for a reported fire in one unit, according to the Ypsilanti Township Fire Department. The apartment where the fire started sustained fire, smoke and water damage, while the other apartments sustained substantial smoke damage, officials said. The American Red Cross was called to the scene and is assisting the displaced residents, officials said. The Ypsilanti Fire Department, Superior Township Fire Department, Pittsfield Township Fire Department and Ann Arbor Township Fire Department assisted at the scene.
mlive.comLicense plate readers could be coming to Ypsilanti Township
Ypsilanti Township is considering moving forward with the purchase of stationary automated license plate readers, cameras that can capture license place information from passing vehicles on public roads. “Any surveillance that we are considering, there’s a process that we will follow,” said county Sheriff Jerry Clayton in a Monday interview. County deputies have been working behind the scenes with Ypsilanti Township over the cameras. Clayton said the idea for the cameras originated with a township staffer, but police thought it worthwhile to explore the technology. The sheriff said he opposed mobile license plate readers on patrol vehicles.
mlive.comAnn Arbor man killed in early morning I-94 crash
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - An Ann Arbor man died in an early Thursday morning crash on I-94 near Ypsilanti Township, police said. Troopers responded to a crash report at 1:17 a.m., April 7 on eastbound I-94 near Michigan Avenue according to Michigan State Police. Investigators determined that a single vehicle swerved off the road and into a ditch, police said. The driver, 23-year-old Edgar Monta Campbell Jr., was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Read more from The Ann Arbor News:Eastern Michigan frat mired in sexual assault allegations faces 10-year alcohol banHearing set for former Washtenaw deputy accused of trading pizza for sexual favorsAuthorities seeking person of interest in suspicious Ann Arbor-area fires
mlive.comYpsilanti Township leaders blast big proposed public transit tax increase
In the meantime, on Tuesday, April 5, Carpenter paid a visit to the Ypsilanti Township Civic Center and Ypsilanti City Hall to present the proposal and hear local leaders’ feedback. TheRide’s board has 10 members, eight from Ann Arbor and one each from Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township, observed township Treasurer Stan Eldridge. Ann Arbor residents also currently pay a separate 2-mill tax and Ypsilanti residents a separate 1-mill tax for TheRide services. With the $1 million annually coming from Ypsilanti Township residents tax bills currently, it provides the township with $7 million of service, he said. The transit authority board, with several members present at the Tuesday township meeting, was “wrestling” with the tax increase, and Ypsilanti Township’s representative on the body had communicated township leaders’ concerns, he said.
mlive.comAuthorities seeking person of interest in suspicious Ann Arbor-area fires
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Officials have identified a person of interest in multiple suspicious fires in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area. The potential suspect could be connected to fires in Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township and Ypsilanti Township, said Pittsfield Township Fire Chief Sean Gleason. Read more: Police investigating suspicious fire at Ann Arbor-area commercial buildingThe newsroom for MLive/The Ann Arbor News is in a separate location in downtown Ann Arbor. There have been multiple suspicious fires in Ann Arbor the last few weeks, but it is unclear which fires are potentially connected to the person of interest. Read more from The Ann Arbor News:Suspicious fire destroys Ann Arbor homeAnn Arbor office fire under investigationUniversity of Michigan student group wants Ann Arbor to fully decriminalize drug possession
mlive.comYpsilanti-area ink plant a ‘very minor source’ of toxic emissions, investigation finds
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Michigan environmental regulators have concluded an investigation into an Ypsilanti-area ink manufacturing plant, finding it is a “very minor source” of toxic air pollution. “The facility is very minor source of toxic air emissions and there is no reason to think that it was a problem historically or going forward,” Greenberg said. “Since the building acts as a collector for particulate emissions, actual external emissions would be nil,” the EGLE inspector wrote. Michigan officials are not requiring the company file an annual emissions report with the state because the levels aren’t significant enough to meet the reporting criteria, officials said. After the review, Michigan environmental regulators are confident that toxic emissions from the facility have “never been a problem,” according to Greenberg.
mlive.comDon’t add ‘fuel to the fire’, say residents opposed to Ypsilanti-area gun range
“We have so much gun violence in Ypsilanti that bringing a gun range to Ypsilanti isn’t going to solve that problem,” township resident Laresha Thornton told officials. “It’s going to add more fuel to the fire.”“The connection between gun availability and gun violence is obvious and proven,” added the Rev. The township didn’t actively pursue the development or give any special consideration to the developers, Ohio-based ComptonAddy, township Planning Director Jason Iacoangeli said. Others said they had first-hand experience with the personal toll of gun violence and worried the new development could feed the problem. Township planning officials said it meets requirements and is unchanged from the first set of plans that received approval.
mlive.comGroup sues Michigan Secretary of State, Ypsilanti Township over petition law
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A local political committee attempting to challenge new Ypsilanti Township zoning maps allowing more marijuana businesses in some areas has sued the township and Michigan’s top elections official. The local ballot question committee, Ypsilanti Township Citizens for Responsible Government, filed the suit in federal court on Tuesday, March 22. It names Michigan Secretary of State Joceyln Benson, Ypsilanti Township Clerk Heather Jarrell Roe and the township government as defendants. The 15-page complaint says the Michigan law that residents have to challenge newly-adopted zoning ordinances through a petition drive is unconstitutional and burdensome in populated areas. A spokesperson for the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office and an Ypsilanti Township lawyer both declined to comment on the pending litigation.
mlive.comWestbound I-94 closed after Willow Run Airport due to crash
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Westbound I-94 after Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti Township is closed due to a crash. The crash was reported at 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, at the Wiard Road exit, No. 186, which is affecting all westbound lanes, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. It is unknown if there are any injuries and crews are on scene working to clear the h.ghwayiMotorists are advised to seek alternative routes while crews are on scene. More from MLive:Ann Arbor council divided 9-2 on $600K contract with new lobbyistWater main work, Michigan Avenue reconstruction to affect traffic in Saline$920 million Michigan Medicine hospital project on budget despite pandemic delay
mlive.comPlans for new Ypsilanti-area indoor gun range, firearms retailer advance
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Plans for an indoor shooting range and firearms retailer in the Ypsilanti area, to be occupied by an operator with locations across the Midwest, are moving forward. Ohio-based developer ComptonAddy aims to build the latest location of Range USA, the newly-rebranded chain of gun ranges that previously went by Shoot Point Blank. The Range USA location will also sell handguns, shotguns and rifles, following regulations and performing FBI background checks on potential buyers, Zilch said. Knuckles noted Range USA strives to partner with local law enforcement. Plans for the Range USA location are set to go through a second stage of township review for final engineering details.
mlive.comHow a big tax increase could reshape public transit in Ann Arbor area
ANN ARBOR, MI — A major transformation and expansion of public transit services in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area could mean 39% faster bus service, double the service near residences and a 74% increase in service near jobs. Those are projections from a new 2045 long-range plan for the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, also known as TheRide, which is considering asking voters in August to approve a big tax increase to start implementing the draft plan. If approved, it would be levied from 2024 to 2028 and cost property owners in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township an extra $168 per year for every $100,000 of taxable value. The long-range plan also shows possibilities for new park-and-ride lots coupled with express bus services linking Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to surrounding communities throughout the region. “So, there’s a whole lot of folks who would benefit from this, but I like to think of it as a benefit to the entire community.”MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:Ann Arbor bus ridership has plummeted amid the pandemic.
mlive.comA red-tailed hawk escaped from wildlife rehabilitators near Ypsilanti. ‘Eyes to the skies’ found him
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - When a red-tailed hawk in the care of wildlife rehabilitators escaped last Friday in Ypsilanti Township, its handler, Alysha Mae Albrecht, immediately thought of a way to get more eyes on the lookout for it. Since then, a Facebook post with a photo of the juvenile raptor — classified as non-releasable because of a talon injury that makes it too difficult for him to hunt — was shared more than 470 times.
mlive.comMan fatally shot in Ypsilanti Township identified as 18-year-old high school student
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Police have identified the man who was found fatally shot Friday night as a high school student who had recently turned 18. LaRonte Benion Phillips, 18, was killed Friday, March 4, after being shot multiple times in an Ypsilanti Township neighborhood, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Man dies after being shot multiple times in Ypsilanti Township neighborhoodDeputies arrived at the scene and found Phillips suffering multiple gunshot wounds, police said. An 18-year-old Ypsilanti Township man was taken into custody on Saturday, March 5, and is set to be arraigned on charges soon. Phillips enjoyed playing basketball and football, playing for Ypsilanti Middle School when he was younger, and also loved to rap, spending much of his free time recording music.
mlive.comMan dies after being shot multiple times in West Willow neighborhood
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – An Ypsilanti man died Friday night after being shot multiple times in an Ypsilanti Township neighborhood, police said. Police were called at 9:40 p.m. March 4, to the area of Outer Lane and Williams Street in West Willow for a report of shots fired and a man seen laying on the sidewalk, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived at the scene an found the victim, an 18-year-old Ypsilanti man, suffering multiple gunshot wounds, police said. The man was taken to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead, police said. More from MLive:‘Another crime we will never hear about’: Ypsilanti police under pressure to increase transparencyNew model for Ann Arbor greenbelt could make land more affordable to new farmers2 dead in fiery I-94 crash near Ann Arbor
mlive.comYpsilanti-area COVID testing site that faced removal order granted permit to stay
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - A COVID-19 testing site in an Ypsilanti Township parking lot that in January faced a shutdown order from local officials can stay. “The township allowed for the testing site to stay in operation leading up to the meeting in good faith based on public health need,” the Planning Director said in an email on Thursday. LynxDx intends to continue operating the Ypsilanti Township site at least through the permitted time, according to company Operations Director Ken Disney. The testing site became a flash point in relations between county officials and township leaders. Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo addressed the Washtenaw County board at their Feb. 16 meeting, urging better communication with local government.
mlive.comMan was killed in ambush robbery set up by Facebook date, records show
Moore, 19, pleaded guilty, Sept. 7, to armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery in exchange for the dismissal of an open murder charge, records show. Both have court dates set for May, according to court records. Moore is set to be sentenced May 24 before Washtenaw County Trial Judge Carol Kuhnke. Police were called to the scene and found Ross slumped over in the driver’s seat, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Both Willis and Moore are being held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond.
mlive.comFourth graders lead Black History Month Fair at East Arbor Charter Academy
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI – Hundreds of students gathered Friday to celebrate Black History Month with presentations from their fourth-grade classmates. About 70 students from three classes at East Arbor Charter Academy shared their presentations with the rest of the school’s 500 first- through eighth-grade students on Feb. 25. “They’ve been working really hard learning about Black history and these specific Black history leaders,” Shelby said. “We take pride in Black history. Because East Arbor Charter Academy is currently limiting visitors, parents were able to watch their students present in front of their class on Thursday.
mlive.com$500 reward offered for information about dog found frozen to death in cage
Dog found frozen to death inside cage in middle of field, officials sayCruelty investigators at the Humane Society of Huron Valley found the dog following a report received by the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, Feb. 13, according to a statement issued by HSHV Thursday, Feb. 17. Based on the snow and ice covering the dog and the cage, it’s likely the cage was placed in the small field off Share Avenue and west of Harris Road sometime Saturday, Feb. 12, officials said. The dog, which appeared to be a young Pitbull mix, was black in color with a little white stripe on his chest. It was clearly emaciated and had feces lining his cage, officials said. Anyone with information on the dog is asked to call HSHV’s Cruelty and Rescue Department at 734-661-3512 or report online at hshv.org/report.
mlive.comSeveral Washtenaw County governments close their doors Friday, Feb. 18 after snowstorm
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - After snow blanketed Washtenaw County on Thursday night, a handful of local governments have elected to close their doors to the public on Friday, Feb. 18. That includes Ypsilanti Township, the county’s second largest municipality, where township offices, the 14B District Court and the township community center are all shuttered Friday. Ypsilanti TownshipTownship Civic Center Offices, the 14B District Court and Ypsilanti Township Community Center are all closed on Friday because of the snow, according to an announcement on the township website. A free COVID-19 testing clinic scheduled for Friday at the township Community Center is canceled. Superior TownshipSuperior Township offices are closed on Friday, officials said in an online announcement.
mlive.comDog found frozen to death inside cage in middle of field, officials say
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Animal cruelty investigators are seeking tips from the pubic after a dog was found frozen to death in a cage placed near an Ypsilanti Township apartment community. Based on the snow and ice covering the dog and the cage, it’s likely the cage was placed in the small field off Share Avenue and west of Harris Road sometime Saturday, Feb. 12, officials said. It was clearly emaciated and had feces lining his cage, officials said. The exact cause of death has not yet been determined, officials said. Anyone with information on the dog is asked to call HSHV’s Cruelty and Rescue Department at 734-661-3512 or report online at hshv.org/report.
mlive.comYpsilanti-area sewer main collapse causes sinkhole, sewage discharge into Huron River
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - An unknown amount of untreated sewage was released into the Huron River after a sanitary sewer pipe collapsed in Ypsilanti Township, according to the Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority (YCUA). The emergency began when officials learned of the sewer main break near the pump station at 3290 Snow Road at 4:08 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13. Officials shut down the upstream pump station at Martz Road while bringing in a contractor to bypass the collapsed pipe, the YCUA official explained. YCUA will secure a contractor to fix the broken main and remove debris in the pump station. Under these circumstances, YCUA has “around the clock” personnel at the pump station to make sure things are working properly, Mullapudi said.
mlive.comMan charged in fatal Ypsilanti Township robbery makes court appearance
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – The man charged in a fatal Ypsilanti Township robbery had his case adjourned until May when he appeared in the Washtenaw County Trial Court on Tuesday, Feb. 8. Melvin Willis Jr. is accused of killing Henry Peoples Ross in a robbery outside an Ypsilanti Township apartment building on March 13, 2021, court records show. Police were first called to a single-vehicle crash reported at about 8:20 p.m., March 13, in the northwest corner of the Ranches of Rosebrook apartment complex near Russell Boulevard, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Man found shot to death in vehicle outside Ypsilanti Township apartmentsHe was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts made by police and paramedics, police said. He is currently being held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond and is scheduled for a final pretrial hearing May 17 before Washtenaw County Trial Judge Carol Kuhnke.
mlive.comPlans for Ypsilanti-area Amazon delivery hub get first OK
On Tuesday, Feb. 8, plans for a new 183,000-square-foot “last-mile” delivery warehouse sailed to a first approval in Ypsilanti Township. Read more: ‘Last mile’ Amazon warehouse near Ann Arbor slated as hub for fleet of delivery vansThe latest hulking concrete warehouse proposed southeast of Ypsilanti will serve as another hub for Amazon’s armada of delivery vans. The six members of the Planning Commission took in the presentation and briefly questioned the traffic plans for Textile Road. “Most of the things that we’ve asked for them to do, they’ve done,” said township Planning Director Jason Iacoangeli. “This is a great opportunity for our township jobs-wise.”“Congratulations, welcome to Ypsilanti Township,” Planning Commission Vice Chair Bill Sinkule said after the vote.
mlive.comMore free at-home COVID tests available to residents in 2 Ypsilanti-area ZIP codes
YPSILANTI, MI - Residents in two Ypsilanti-area ZIP codes can benefit from another supply of at-home COVID-19 test kits mailed directly to their door, in addition to those available from the federal government. The eligible Washtenaw County ZIP codes are 48197 and 48198, covering Ypsilanti proper, Ypsilanti Township, much of Superior Township and parts of Pittsfield Township, south of Ann Arbor. The program is in addition to the free at-home coronavirus testing kits available through the federal government and distributed by the U.S. The two Ypsilanti-area ZIP codes are home to the majority of Washtenaw County’s Black residents, and researchers have identified them as bearing a disproportionate burden from the virus during the pandemic. More from The Ann Arbor News:Township will ‘stop the clock’ on Ypsilanti-area COVID testing site shutdownFree weekly COVID testing clinics being hosted at Ypsilanti Township Community CenterEMU fraternity files to dismiss lawsuit alleging it’s a ‘breeding ground’ for sexual assaultsWe all love Super Bowl commercials.
mlive.comFree weekly COVID testing clinics being hosted at Ypsilanti Township Community Center
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - An Ypsilanti-area community center near housing complexes with a high concentration of low-income renters is offering no-cost COVID testing two days a week. Ypsilanti Township is partnering with the Washtenaw County Health Department and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to make the testing available at its community center at 2025 East Clark Road, the township announced on Jan. 31. They will take place in Room 101, and signs will be posted at the community center with directions to the testing site. A privately-run PCR testing site in a former Walmart parking lot off Ellsworth Road in the township briefly appeared set to close after township officials cited it for zoning violations in January. More from The Ann Arbor News:Township will ‘stop the clock’ on Ypsilanti-area COVID testing site shutdownWhat will Ypsilanti Township do with $9.4M in COVID relief?
mlive.comCase dismissed against man accused of Ypsilanti Township street beating
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – An Ypsilanti man facing felony charges after allegedly severely beating a man in an Ypsilanti Township street is no longer being prosecuted. The case against Charles Michael Smith was dismissed Tuesday, Jan. 18, after prosecutors stated they were unable to proceed in the case, court records show. The case was dismissed without prejudice meaning charges can be refiled again at a later date. Smith, 32, of Ypsilanti, was charged with one count of assault with intent to due great bodily harm, a 10-year felony, for allegedly beating a man in the streets in Ypsilanti Township in early October. Deputies arrived at the scene and found the victim, a 30-year-old Inkster man, suffering significant injuries, police said.
mlive.comLooking for a place to get a COVID test? New location opens in Ypsilanti area
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - With COVID-19 transmission spiking due to the spread of the omicron variant, a local coronavirus testing operation has opened a new location. Ann Arbor-based LynxDx is now offering saliva-based PCR tests at the Roundtree Place Shopping Center in Ypsilanti Township, the site of the shuttered Walmart Supercenter at 2515 Ellsworth Road.
mlive.comMan suffers significant injuries in Ypsilanti Township assault, police say
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – An Ypsilanti man was arrested after allegedly beating a man in Ypsilanti Township Saturday morning. Police received multiple calls at 10:39 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, to the area of N. Ford Boulevard and Forest Avenue reporting one man was attacking another, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived at the scene and found the victim, a 30-year-old Inkster man, suffering significant injuries, police said. Smith, 32, of Ypsilanti, was arraigned Sunday, Dec. 5, on one felony count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm. Assault with intent to do great bodily harm is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
mlive.comAnn Arbor man found fatally shot Thanksgiving morning
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – An Ann Arbor man was fatally shot during a fight outside an Ypsilanti Township apartment complex Thanksgiving morning, police say. Von Cratic, 22, was found dead Nov. 25 by police responding to several reports of shots fired at the Villas apartment complex, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. The initial investigation indicates Cratic and another man, 23, got into an argument that escalated, police said. The 23-year-old man is currently in police custody and is being questioned about the incident, police said. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 734-973-7711.
mlive.com1 dead, 1 injured in shooting at Washtenaw County mobile home park
PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI -- A 26-year-old Pittsfield Township man was killed in a shooting at a mobile home park Thursday morning, according to police. Police were dispatched to a report of shots fired at the 5200 block of West Michigan Ave. within the Arbor Meadows Mobile Home Community in Pittsfield Township at 6:11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 25, according to a Pittsfield Township Police Department news release. Officers located the driver of the Malibu, a 26-year-old Pittsfield Township man. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. A 30-year-old Ypsilanti Township man who was a passenger of the vehicle was also located nearby suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to police.
mlive.comMichigan regulators investigating Ypsilanti-area industrial plant over toxic air pollution
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - Roughly 17 years after it opened, Michigan environmental regulators are investigating an Ypsilanti-area ink manufacturing plant after discovering its reported emissions of potentially toxic air pollution hadn’t been permitted under air quality rules, or otherwise accounted for in state records. The Electronics for Imaging, Inc. facility, a hulking building along I-94 in Ypsilanti Township, was flagged as creating one of thousands of possible toxic air “hot spots” across the U.S. in a recent report by the investigative news organization ProPublica.
mlive.comYpsilanti man killed in shooting, police say
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI — A 34-year-old Ypsilanti man was killed in a shooting in Ypsilanti Township on Monday, police said. Deputies responded to the reported shooting at approximately 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15, in the 1700 block of Smith Street, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. On the scene, deputies found Laron Donta Henning with multiple gunshot wounds, police said, adding he was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries. Gary Demonn Chambers, 27, was taken into custody at the scene and later arraigned on one count of open murder, police said. He is currently being housed in the Washtenaw County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
mlive.com‘Bring it back home’: Farming educator plans to bring community gardens to Ypsilanti-area park
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - The leader of a local farming and education nonprofit with locations across Washtenaw County has forged a partnership with Ypsilanti Township to bring community gardens back to his roots. “I was born and raised out there in Willow Run, and it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, just wanted to bring it back home,” says Takunia “TC” Collins, founder of Willow Run Acres, which is on the verge of inking a deal to bring accessible raised beds, native plants and educational gardens to Appleridge Park, at the corner of East Clark and Ridge roads.
mlive.comFive children, one adult displaced after house fire
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Five children and one adult were displaced from their Ypsilanti Township home Monday evening after a fire. Crews were called at 8:02 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, to the 1000 block of Nash Avenue in the West Willow neighborhood for a reported structure fire, according to the Ypsilanti Township Fire Department.
mlive.comToyota inks 5-year lease, $6M total investment at Ypsilanti automated vehicle center
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - Toyota is investing $6 million in an autonomous vehicle research and test site at Willow Run. The car manufacturer announced on Nov. 10 that it had inked a nearly $3.5-million lease lasting five years for facilities on the American Center for Mobility campus in Ypsilanti Township. The self-driving vehicle hub, a partnership between Michigan state agencies, the University of Michigan and economic development groups, had its ribbon cutting in late 2017. The expansion of Toyota’s footprint “punctuates the permanency of the ACM smart mobility test center and innovation campus, as well as the state of Michigan, as the epicenter for global automotive and mobility technology development,” Kaehr said. More from The Ann Arbor News:Willow Run self-driving vehicle test site loses ‘proving ground’ designation$7.5M federal grant to aid American Center for Mobility, McityElectric vehicle race from NYC to LA makes pitstop in Ypsilanti
mlive.comSuspect in custody after man shot in Ypsilanti Township neighborhood
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A shooting suspect is in custody after a man was shot early Thursday morning in an Ypsilanti Township neighborhood, police said. At about 7:41 a.m. Oct. 28, police received multiple reports of shots fired in the 300 block of Bedford Drive in Ypsilanti Township, with reports of at least one person being shot, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators were able to quickly identify a suspect, who is currently in police custody and being questioned, police said. No additional information is available at this time as the incident remains under active investigation, police said. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 734-973-7711.
mlive.comMan robs Washtenaw County CVS, police say
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Police are investigating an armed robbery at an Ypsilanti Township CVS. Police were called at 9:35 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, to the CVS Pharmacy on 2151 Washtenaw Avenue for an armed robbery, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. The man fled the store with an undisclosed amount of money in an unknown direction, police said. Police searched the area but were unable to locate the man, police said. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 734-973-7711.
mlive.comPolice investigate 2 shootings in Ypsilanti Township
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A woman driving west toward Ann Arbor from Ypsilanti Township was shot at for unknown reasons, police say. Police received multiple calls of reported shots fired at 9:12 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, in the 4900 block of Washtenaw Avenue in Ypsilanti Township where they later discovered an unknown suspect apparently shot at a motorist, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. More than an hour later, at 10:45 p.m., police were called to another report of multiple shots fired in the 2800 block of Bynan Drive at the Villas apartment complex, police said. It is unknown if the shooting on Washtenaw Avenue and the shots fired in the apartment complex are connected as police are still investigating. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 734-973-7711.
mlive.comMan killed in head-on crash in Ypsilanti Township
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A Redford man was killed Thursday in a head=on crash with another vehicle in Ypsilanti Township, police said. Emergency crews were called at 12:45 p.m. Oct. 14, to E. Forest Avenue and Browning Avenue for a report of the crash, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Crews arrived at the scene to find one driver, a 26-year-old Redford man, had suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. No additional injuries have been reported and the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 734-973-7711.
mlive.comMan shot several times while leaving Ypsilanti Township store, police say
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A man was shot several times while exiting an Ypsilanti Township store Thursday afternoon, police said. Police were called at about 5 p.m. Oct. 14, to a reported shooting in the 1000 block of E. Michigan Avenue, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Additional police responding to the scene found two shooting suspects, a 22-year-old man and a 23-year-old man both from Van Buren Township, and arrested them without incident, police said. The men were taken to the Washtenaw County Jail and are awaiting charges related to the shooting, which remains under investigation, police said. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 734-973-7711.
mlive.comAnn Arbor man fatally shot in Ypsilanti Township
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – An Ann Arbor man died Wednesday night after being shot in an Ypsilanti Township neighborhood, police say. Deputies arrived to find the victim, a 21-year-old Ann Arbor man, in the roadway suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, police said. The man was taken to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and died, police said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 734-973-7711. More from MLive:Man who admitted to sexually assaulting women in downtown Ann Arbor sent to prisonTrustee’s social media use once again condemned by Ann Arbor School BoardState taxpayers will contribute $1.5M to Zeeb Road pathway, I-94 crossing
mlive.comCanna Jam, Artoberfest among weekend events for Oct. 9-10 in Washtenaw County
Here are three events happening in and around Washtenaw County this weekend. The fair can be be found on North Fourth Avenue between East Huron Street and Kingsley Street and on Ann Street between Main Street and Fifth Avenue. FORAGING WITH NOMI FORAGERWalk through the woods with the NoMi Forager on Oct. 9 for an introduction into fall foraging. The class will meet at Bandemer Park, located at 1352 Lake Shore Drive in Ann Arbor, at 11 a.m. and will last roughly three hours. CANNA JAMYpsilanti’s Riverside Park will be hosting the Canna Jam, the fourth-ever state-sanctioned cannabis consumption festival.
mlive.comMan threatening loved one with butter knife arrested, police say
YPSILANTI, MI – A 911 call reporting a man making threats with a butter knife ended in an arrest for domestic violence Monday morning, police said. A resident at the home had called 911 to report being threatened with a butter knife by a significant other after an argument, police said. Officers arrived at the home and, after speaking to both people, arrested the suspect for domestic violence, police said. Why aren’t Ann Arbor schools using it? Ann Arbor HR director files formal complaint against acting city administratorYpsilanti Township is now home to a garden boasting 1,300 native Michigan wildflowers.
mlive.comIcy weather sends industrial production down 2.2% last month
Severe winter weather pushed industrial production down a sharp 2.2% in February, reflecting a big decline in factory output. The Federal Reserve reported Tuesday that industrial production fell 2.2% in February, reflecting a big decline in output at factories and oil and gas refineries. Industrial production fell 2.2% last month interrupting a string of four positive monthly gains as U.S. factories recovered from the pandemic-induced recession of last spring. Industrial production had been up 1.1% in January and 1% in December. The Fed said that total industrial production in February was 4.2% below the level of February 2002, the month before the pandemic hit with force in the United States.
Man wanted for questioning in Ypsilanti Township homicide of 32-year-old
A person is wanted for questioning by the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office regarding a homicide in Ypsilanti Township. YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the homicide of a young man that happened Saturday. Henry Peoples Ross, 32, was found by deputies after being shot in the driver’s seat of a vehicle, according to the WCSO. His body was found by deputies who were responding to a single vehicle crash in the northwest corner of the Ranches of Rosebrook apartment complex near Russell Boulevard in Ypsilanti Township. The person pictured above is wanted for questioning in connection with the case.
Plane makes emergency landing at Willow Run airport due to mechanical issues
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A small airplane made an emergency landing early Sunday morning at Willow Run Airport. According to authorities, the small aircraft was experiencing mechanical issues and its landing gear did not come down, causing the plane to leave the runway just after midnight. Authorities said the two people onboard were able to exit safely and were unharmed. The investigation into what went wrong is ongoing.
U.S. industrial production climbs 0.9% in January
The Federal Reserve reported Tuesday, Dec. 15 that the November gain in industrial output followed an even stronger 0.9% increase in October. U.S. industrial production — which includes output factories, mines and utiliites — rose 0.9% last month on top of increases of 1.3% in December, 0.9% in November and 1.1% in October, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday. Still, industrial production was down 1.8% from January 2020, reflecting lingering economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic. Manufacturing rose 1% even though auto production was held down by a shortage of semiconductors used in vehicles. Utility output dropped 1.2% on declining production of natural gas.
Eastbound I-94 blocked near Rawsonville Road due to crash
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. – All lanes of eastbound I-94 near Rawsonville Road were blocked Thursday morning due to a crash. Drivers were advised to avoid the area and seek and alternative route. Update: Traffic was moving freely by Thursday afternoon.
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office seeks information on armed home invasion in Ypsilanti
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is reminding community members to lock all doors and windows after responding to a call on Saturday about an armed home invasion on the 2300 block of Lakeview Avenue. When deputies responded to the call around 2:50 a.m., they were told that two armed suspects entered the residence through an unlocked door and window, police said. No additional information about the suspects has been released at this time. The Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to share information regarding the incident by contacting Detective Boivin at boivint@washtenaw.org or Deputy Erbes at erbesj@washtenaw.org. Tips and leads can also be called into the WCSO Central Dispatch Non-Emergency line at 734-994-2911.
US industrial production jumps 1.6% in December
The Federal Reserve reported Tuesday, Dec. 15 that the November gain in industrial output followed an even stronger 0.9% increase in October. – U.S. industrial production rose 1.6% in December, a third straight monthly gain, but remains below its pre-pandemic level. Even with those gains, industrial output is still about 3.3% below its level in February before the pandemic hit. Manufacturing increased 0.9%, its eighth straight monthly gain, even as production of motor vehicles and parts declined 1.6%. Mining production rose 1.6%, while utilities' output rose 6.2% as a rebound in December demand followed a 4.2% decline in November due to unseasonably warm weather.
Donuts and hot cocoa bombs are sure to make your sweet tooth smile
This homegrown business is helping you add some flavor to your hot cocoa. It’s a Good Day Donut Café in Ypsilanti Township offers hot cocoa bombs in a variety of flavors such as salted caramel, snickerdoodle, cookies and cream and more. The hot cocoa bombs are easy to use and eat. You place them in your hot chocolate mixture and pour steaming milk on top then enjoy! The Good Day Donut Café also offers tasty donuts, hot cocoa and fondue kits.
Family still seeking justice as 2012 murder of Eastern Michigan University student remains unsolved
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The family of an Eastern Michigan University (EMU) student who was found murdered in her apartment in 2012 are still looking for justice. The family recently want the Ypsilanti Police Department to hand the case over to Michigan State Police. The Niswender family said Christmas is a particularly difficult time for them. “I still feel anger that it’s been eight years and we were told this as a solvable case,” Turnquist said. “Why has it been eight years?”Julia was 23-years-old when the Eastern Michigan University student was found dead in her Ypsilanti apartment on Dec. 11, 2012.
2 young Ypsilanti men killed by same bullet in tragic Thanksgiving shooting
YPSILANTI, Mich. – Two Metro Detroit families are mourning after a young Ypsilanti Township man killed himself with a single bullet that also killed his friend on Thanksgiving. Officials say the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a shooting at Aspen Chase Apartments at about 7 p.m. on Nov. 26. “What looks to have happened is one young man, who suffered from a mental health condition, committed suicide,” said Derrick Jackson with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. When he pulled the trigger, the bullet went right through his friend and into (his friend). So it was one bullet that killed both young men.”Gabe Scott says he was close to both of the young men -- especially Reed Carter, who police said was the young man trying to help his friend.
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office seeks missing 14-year-old girl last seen on Dec. 2
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 14-year-old Olivia Antonette Jones who was last seen leaving her home at 1215 Share Ave. in Ypsilanti Township on Wednesday. She has brown hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a red sweatshirt, red sweatpants and a jean jacket. She was last seen entering an unknown white sedan at approximately 2:05 p.m. If you have any information about this person's location, please contact 911 or our tip line. Posted by Washtenaw Sheriff on Friday, December 4, 2020Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call 911 or 734-973-7711.
Family mourns construction worker hit, killed by driver in Ypsilanti Township
LANSING, Mich. – The family of a Lansing man who was hit and killed by a suspected drunk driver in Ypsilanti Township gathered on Tuesday to honor him. Twenty-three-year-old Davyon Rose was one of two construction workers killed on Saturday on Interstate 94. The other man killed, Nicholas Andres Sada, was Rose’s longtime friend. Even though he is not here, he will forever be with us.”Police identified the driver as 29-year-old Ryann Musselman, of Belleville. READ: Driver charged in Ypsilanti Township crash that killed 2 construction workersREAD: Alcohol suspected contributing factor in Ypsilanti Township crash that killed construction workers
Driver charged in Ypsilanti Township crash that killed 2 construction workers
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Charges have been filed against a 29-year-old driver in a crash that killed two construction works in Ypsilanti Township. Ryann Musselman, of Belleville, is charged with two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death. A vehicle driven by Musselman hit both of the workers in the area. The crash happened at about 1:45 a.m. Saturday on Interstate 94 eastbound near Harris Road. ORIGINAL: Alcohol suspected contributing factor in Ypsilanti Township crash that killed construction workers
Alcohol suspected contributing factor in Ypsilanti Township crash that killed construction workers
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Two construction workers were struck and killed on eastbound I-94 near Harris Road in Ypsilanti Township around 1:45 a.m. today, according to Michigan State Police. A vehicle driven by 29-year-old Belleville resident Ryann Danielle Musselman hit both of the construction workers in the area. Police say the cause of the crash is suspected of being alcohol related. She was arrested and taken to the Washtenaw County Jail for two counts of Operating While Intoxicated. Read more: Washtenaw County headlinesWatchThe Michigan Department of Transportation shared this video recently produced with Gov.
I-94 in Ypsilanti reopens after traffic incident causes closure
YSPILANTI, Mich. – The collision on eastbound I-94 in Ypsilanti has been cleared, authorities said. Drivers are being asked to avoid the area of eastbound I-94 near Huron Street due to a traffic incident. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office announced at 3:52 p.m. Saturday that all lanes are closed due to a traffic incident that occurred in the area. After the incident was cleared, the highway reopened at about 8:45 p.m.Stay with Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit as we share updates on this developing story. More: Local News
Police investigate multiple vehicle, semi truck crash in Ypsilanti Township
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a multiple-vehicle crash involving four cars and a semi truck on Wednesday afternoon. According to authorities, at about 1:30 p.m. the traffic crash occurred at the intersection of Rawsonville and Textile roads in Ypsilanti Township. Officials say individuals involved sustained serious injuries, though the full extent of the injuries has not been released. So far no deaths have been reported in connection with this crash. The intersection was initially closed for further investigation and has since reopened.
Health officials remind residents that there is still an advisory in effect for harmful algal blooms in Ford Lake
WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – Health officials are reminding residents and visitors that a public health advisory for harmful algal blooms in Ford Lake in Ypsilanti remains in effect. Do not swallow the lake water. READ: Help Me Hank: Keeping your pets safe from toxic algaeSome algal blooms are made of cyanobacteria that have the ability to produce toxins, causing a harmful algal bloom. A Ford Lake resident notified the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services of a suspected harmful algal bloom earlier this summer. READ: Washtenaw County residents cautioned about potential toxic algal bloom in Ford LakeWhat you need to know