Police Blotter: Threats, Suspicious Behavior Under Investigation

police are investigating telephone threats made against the manager of on the Hill. The manager reported the telephone calls upon returning to work from vacation. She told officers her employees told her they had been receiving a nightly from Nov. 14 through the 18 call about 9 p.m. inquiring about her and then threatening to kill her. The caller used profanity calling the manager derogatory names. In addition to the calls, a parking lot attendant reported to police that a group of four women approached her Nov. 18 inquiring about the Rite Aid manager. They asked the attendant what time she gets out of work and what kind of car she drives. The manager told officer she does not know who is making the threats or why. She said she recently fired an employee and prosecuted an employee for stealing and she has worked at other stores where she's had disagreements with employees, according to a report.

Man Acts Suspiciously in Bank 

police are investigating the suspicious behavior of a man at , 19683 Mack Ave. reported by a manager. The man has visited the bank repeatedly since Nov. 15, acting strangely each time and causing concern not only of the employees but also of one of its commercial banking customers. The man entered the bank Nov. 15 and repeatedly asked employees if he looked like a bank robber. Then he opened an account. The man returned Nov. 18, first depositing $10 and then an hour later returning to withdraw $20. While he was at the bank both times, he began asking a lot of questions about employees as well as about their schedules. During his first visit on Nov. 18, the man also followed one of the bank's commercial customers, who was hauling bank bags full of rolled coins. The encounter bothered the customer so much that he later contacted the bank manager to alert him of it. The bank manager told police he wishes to close the man's account and advise him to bank elsewhere. The manager also told police his behavior was so suspicious he believes the man may try to rob them, according to a report. 

Drunk Driving Arrests

Grosse Pointe Farms police arrested a 41-year-old Newport woman Nov. 18 shortly before 11 p.m. for drunken driving. Officers responded to a call about a crash on Lake Shore Road near Berkshire Place, where they found a damaged vehicle and a downed light pole. Parts from the light pole were strewn across the street and a woman was found stumbling along the street. She denied the crashed vehicle as hers at first but officers confirmed it was her car through her license and registration. The woman told officers she was coming from Harbor Hill and then told officers she was trying to get home. She failed all field sobriety tests and initially had a 0.16 percent blood alcohol content. During subsequent tests later, she had a 0.20 level and a 0.18 level. She was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. 

In another case, officers arrested a 60-year-old resident for drunken driving Nov. 19 after she struck a parked car on Waterloo and then crashed into the construction fence surrounding the former site of the Neighborhood Club. Officers found the woman with slurred speech and unsteady on her feet. She was fell down while trying to complete field sobriety tests and officers decided she was in such bad condition that she could not perform on a breath test. They took her to an area hospital where her blood was drawn to determine her level of intoxication. The woman told officers she had been drinking at a restaurant in the Village while watching football and did not recall striking the parked car. She was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, according to a report. 

Credit Card Fraud Reported

Grosse Pointe Woods police are investigating the fraudulent use of a resident's credit card. The resident reported the misuse Nov. 21 after discovering a purchase for $299.99 on his statement from an online company. The resident told officers he does not shop online but does bank online, according to the report. 

Officers Rake Leaves From Middle of Road

Grosse Pointe Woods police officers  had to remove a pile of leaves in the middle of the roadway near Cook and Holiday roads Nov. 19 after receiving complaints about it. The pile was impeding traffic and while the officers were removing the leaves with a rake and their feet, another resident asked them to rake her yard, to which they "politely" declined, according to a report.

Minivan Stolen

City of Grosse Pointe police are investigating the theft of a minivan from the 17000 block of Waterloo. The owner reported the minivan missing Nov. 21 shortly before 7 a.m. after walking outside for the first time that day. The man told officers he was slightly behind on the payments but he checked with the bank to see if it had been classified as repossessed, which officials said was not the case. Officers also had not heard from any repossession companies and the minivan was entered into the national database for stolen vehicles, according to a report. 

2 Cell Phones Reported Stolen

City of Grosse Pointe police are investigating a reported theft of two cell phones from a car parked near St. Clair and Charlevoix streets Nov. 19. The driver and passenger of the car said it broke down, they walked to a business in the Village and then walked back. They left their cell phones in the car and when they returned, they were gone. The vehicle did not appear to have been tampered with but a window was cracked and officers believe that may have been the point of entry for the thief, according to a report. 

Several Vehicle Break-Ins Reported

police are investigating several thefts from vehicles in which various items including loose change were stolen. Several were reported in the north end of the city overnight Nov. 14 and then another was reported overnight Nov. 17, in which a voltmeter was stolen. Several more were reported overnight in the south end of the city. Among all of those, a 2003 green Chrysler Voyager was stolen from the 1200 block of Bedford Road Nov. 16 to 17, according to a report.