Thursday, April 15, 2010 • HERITAGE NEWSPAPERS/WESTERN REGION
POLICE BOTTER DeRoche enters plea deal following arrest A former prominent state legislator charged with drunken driving in Saline last month has pleaded guilty to reduced charges, city officials said. Craig DeRoche, 39, recently pleaded guilty to one count of impaired driving in Washtenaw County District Court, Saline Police Detective Don Lupi said. A lone count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated will be dismissed at sentencing in May. City Attorney Allan Grossman charged DeRoche in March after reviewing multiple police reports from a Feb. 9 incident. The Novi resident was reportedly staggering in the snow and walking in and out of stores to avoid police in the 400 block of North Ann Arbor Street at about 5:30 p.m. He was found sitting next to an electrical transformer behind a building and appeared highly intoxicated, according to reports. A preliminary breath test taken at that time indicated he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.24 percent, which is more than three times the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle in Michigan. Officers found his vehicle in a nearby driveway and noted heavy damage, including a flat tire and dented side panel. DeRoche later explained that he was on his way from a business meeting at a local bar when he got a flat tire. He parked and attempted to change the tire, but was unable to and went looking for help. DeRoche represented a large portion of Oakland County in the state Legislature for six years, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives for one term. He currently owns an insurance services company and is not a candidate for public office. It is common for first-time drunken driving offenses to be handled similarly, Saline Police Chief Paul Bunten said.
Police nab shoplifters from Detroit in Saline Saline police said they arrested three Detroit residents after they stole a bag full of personal body care items from a drugstore along Michigan Avenue last week. Steven Anderson, Edward
Varner and Doris Williams were all arraigned last week on charges of first-degree retail fraud, conspiracy to commit retail fraud-second degree, and commission of a felony with a motor vehicle, court records show. They remain at the Washtenaw County Jail on $7,500 cash bond and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. Williams, 58, and Anderson, 46, entered the CVS/Pharmacy, 413 E. Michigan Ave., shortly after 10:30 a.m. April 6 and began filling a cloth bag with soaps, body washes, shampoos and other personal-care items, according to police reports. When employees noticed and became suspicious, Williams told Anderson, who was standing at the front of an aisle way near the door, to run with the bag. He just made it out the door as an employee grabbed the bag and partially ripped off a strap. Williams also ran out of the store and into a waiting burgundy Jeep Cherokee allegedly driven by Varner, according to reports. Saline Police Detective Don Lupi said they were fortunate officers happened to be near the suspect’s escape route and were quickly able to stop the vehicle without incident. “We were very fortunate to have officers in place because the suspects were on the edge of town when the officers were able to spot them and stop them,” Lupi said. “Thankfully, they were available and able to respond.” Investigators recovered the stolen items, which amounted to more than $300, reports said. Lupi said they are all repeat offenders and face felony charges that carry up to five years in prison upon conviction.
Vandals hit Bank of America in Saline Saline Police said vandals struck outside a bank near downtown sometime overnight last week. Officials with the security department for the Bank of America contacted police April 5 after employees reported spray paint damage to the front sign and other areas when they arrived at the branch, 179 E. Michigan Ave., according to police reports. The bank last closed at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 3 and the vandalism is believed
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Garry M. Deo, O.D. Doctor of Optometry
to have occurred between 4 p.m. April 4 and 8 a.m. April 5. Vandals used blue spray paint to write “corrupt!” underneath the bank’s name on the red sign in front of the property. The same word was painted in royal blue on the back of the building. Officers also noted the word “Mets” was also painted in blue inside a caption bubble along concrete wall facing the east in the back parking lot, according to reports. Damage was estimated at $250. No suspect descriptions were available. Anyone with information is asked to call the Saline police at 429-7911 or e-mail Detective Don Lupi at dlupi@cityofsaline.org.
121 East Michigan Avenue Saline, Michigan 48176
Phone: (734) 429-9454
PLEASE SEE POLICE/8-A
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Wedding Anniversary For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health and you both deserve each other. These words were told to us during our pre-marriage counseling by our minister, Claire Wolfe that married us on April 16, 1960 in Hazel Park, MI. They have been the cornerstone of our marriage ever since. George and Lois (Taylor) Perrault of Saline started going together in 1956. Lois was in Jr. High School and George in High School, a true school sweetheart romance. George is retired active duty from the U.S. Navy (5782) and also from Univ. of Mich. staff (Air Force ROTC) 85-99. Lois served in one of the world’s toughest professions, a Navy wife, during 22 years of her husband’s career, raising two children during her husbands many years of deployment while in service. Son Michael born on Valentines day in an Air Force hospital in Washing ton D.C. and daughter Lori born in a Navy hospital in San Diego, CA. Daughter Lori (Mike) Puckett are proud pare nts of twins, Taylor and Brandon. All of which reside in Saline, MI. Lois enjoys being with her grandchildren, friends and volunteering whenever time allows with the Ame rican Legion, and Friends of the Vietnam Veterans of America. Lois worked for 21 years, retiring as a pur chasing agent, from the former Xycom, Inc. of Saline.
George & Lois Perra ult
George remains active in a number of veteran’s organizations and making trips with Lois to their cottage in Caseville, MI. Both Lois and George attend ships reunions across the country whenever they can as well. Best of all Lois and George cherish the title of Grammie and Pa.
Our thanks go out to our many friends and family for their kindness and support during these last fe w years. You will never know how much it is appreciated.
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