VOL. 19, NO. 14 THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013

 The

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LIVE YPSIGrant programgets funding forsecond year

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SPORTSYpsi baseball falls toBelleville

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Check outour video:■ Washtenaw Co.

resident react to vehicleshootings

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INDEX

HUSKYWoman found

guilty of animalcruelty

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GROWINGGrowing HopelaunchesKickstarter

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By Ben BairdHeritage Media

A 46-year-old RiverRouge man was mur-dered with a blunt objectthe night of Easter andtwo suspects are in cus-

tody.Officers were dispatched at about 9:39 p.m. Sunday to the900 block of Railroad Street to investigate a report of apossible fight or disorderly incident, according to theYpsilanti Police Department.After arriving and conducting an initial investigation,police say they determined a man and woman wereinvolved in an altercation resulting in the River Rougeman's death.AnnArbor.com is identifying the victim as John Lawrenceand is reporting he came there that day to intervene onthe behalf of his 19-year-old daughter at Peninsular Placeapartments during a disag reement involving lease withthe two suspects that escalated to a heated argument.

He was transported to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospitalemergency room and pronounced dead, according topolice. His injuries included blunt force trauma and pos-

River Rougeman killedEaster night,2 in custody Man came tohelp daughterwith roommates

 Ypsilanti appoints Anthouard fire chief 

Police probe leads in recent shootingsBy Amy BellHeritage Media

Law enforcement officials are now investigating a number of leads tiedto the shootings that took place in Bridgewater and Pittsfield townshipsMarch 25

Sgt. Chris Pascoe with the Michigan State Police Department’sBrighton post said there are leads being pursued but he could not giveany additional information. The case is now being handled by a multi-

 jurisdictional task force based out of the Pittsfield Police Department.The task force was created to investigate the incidents that involved

two shootings in Bridgewater Township and another in Pittsfield.Officials are also investigating whether a fourth incident involving a

vehicle shooting in Canton on March 22 is linked with the three othersthat occurred in Washtenaw County.

Officials have stated they believe the three incidents in WashtenawCounty are linked due to the proximity and time the incidents occurred.No injuries were reported.

Officials from the FBI, MSP, Washtenaw County Sheriff ’s Departmentand Pittsfield department met March 27 to discuss the incidents.

The investigation surrounds two shootings that occurred March25 around 6 p.m. in Bridgewater Township and another in PittsfieldTownship.

The two incidents in Bridgewater involved separate shootings onAustin Road between Schneider and Ernst roads.

The first involved a Manchester man who was traveling west onAustin Road, east of Ernst Road, with a passenger, when shots werefired at his 2005 Chevy Silverado pick-up. The second involved an Adrianwoman whose vehicle was shot at.

The woman was travelling west along Austin Road, west of SchneiderRoad, alone in her 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix.

The third involved an elderly woman traveling along Michigan Avenue

near Industrial Drive, whose vehicle was shot at around 6:15 p.m.According to the Saline Patch, an Ann Arbor man who commutes to

Canton for work reported March 22 that his vehicle was shot at.Those with information on the shootings should contact the Pittsfield

Township police at 822-4911, the Michigan State Police Brighton Post at810-227-1051 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP (773-2587).

Photo courtesy Pittsfield Department of Public Safety

Local law enforcement officials, including Michigan State Police andPittsfield Department of Public Safety, are investigating a spate of recentshootings.

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News Tip Hotline:

734-429-7380

By Krystal ElliottHeritage Media

 

Ypsilanti has appointed Max Anthouardas fire chief, effective April 1. Anthouardhad been serving as interim fire chief since January 1, following the retirementof former Chief John Ichesco.

Anthouard's appointment to fire chief comes months after the Ypsilanti FireDepartment suffered a staff reduction

of five firefighters on shift to four. TheDepartment continues to face challengesas the city sees continual budget short-falls.

"Right now I have a goal of maintain-ing the current staffing level," saidAnthouard. "There are a lot of differenthappenings in the department right now."

Possible solutions to a dwindling fireand public safety staff and budget havebeen dis-

police. His injuries included blunt force trauma and pos-sible other unknown injuries.

The two suspects, a 20-year-old Farmington Hills manand a 20-year-old Ypsilanti woman, were arrested bypolice. Police say they were acquaintances with the vic-tim.The homicide investigation is ongoing.Anyone with any additional information regarding thiscase is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Tom Eberts at734-482-9878 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP

Staff Writer Ben Baird can be reached at 734-429-7380,bbaird@heritage.com or via Twitter @BenBaird1.

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