Gunmen strike downtown Muskegon Heights one day after cop layoffs

[UpInArms]

Source: Muskegon Chronicle

A downtown Muskegon Heights business owner was robbed at gunpoint Friday afternoon just one day after the city's police force was cut nearly in half.

According to Muskegon Heights police, the robbery took place at 67 W. Broadway, an apartment building owned by Sandra Moore. There was at least one person inside the apartment building office when the robbery occurred, but no one was injured in the incident, police investigators said.

Police were still investigating the incident Friday afternoon. Several witnesses told police at the scene that two males -- one reportedly carrying a shotgun -- were spotted fleeing Moore's office, including one male who was wearing a dark-colored "hoodie."

Two Muskegon Heights police officers responded to the incident. They were quickly backed up at the scene by a Muskegon County Sheriff's deputy, the sheriff's search dog and two Michigan State Police troopers.

<snip>

The city council on Dec. 22 voted to cut 11 police jobs as part of budget reductions. The police officer layoffs, which took effect at 6 a.m. Thursday, are already coming back to haunt the city, said Smith.

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2009/01/gunmen_strike_downtown_muskego.html

[thunder rising]

1. I don't see how the two are connected.

[UpInArms]

2. not sure either - but the reporter (seems like a local story)

is attempting to draw a line to lack of law enforcement and local crime

:shrug:

[amandabeech]

3. I grew up north of this area. It is an extremely poor minority city attached to Muskegon

which is a more mixed extremely poor city.

All the jobs left in the '80s, and the societal collapse has been very bad.

Some locals think that fewer police will equal more crime, and this particular stick up looks brazen--right in a busy area.

I just hope that not all our industrial areas decline to the point of North Muskegon, but without changes in trade regulations, it looks inevitable.

It is all incredibly sad.

Despite Edwards' obvious problems, I'm still proud to have supported him based on his refusal to forget about places like North Muskegon.

I hope that another economic populist rises in the Dem party who is not afraid to take on the disgraced Friedmanites now in charge.

[UpInArms]

4. there are definitely "2 Americas"

those that don't worry and those that have become less than desirable to live in/near/around

perhaps someday people will realize that their walls will not keep them safe

[amandabeech]

5. I agree with everything in your post. n/t

[thunder rising]

6. Ever think about buying a few feet of thick chain and locking those gates just to watch the response

[UpInArms]

7. only need for chains here is to drag something

out of the ditch

no fences - only open areas of nothingness

[High Plains]

8. Probably laid off cops.

Police and thieves,
scaring the nation with their guns and ammunition, oh, yeaaah.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

9. That's the first thought I had.

I've known quite a few cops in my day - there is a fine line between cops and crooks. Very fine.