Firearms Arrest; Voter Harassed on Election Day; Identity Theft

officers reported to 67 alarms, 31 crashes and 19 arrests Nov. 8-14. Among the highlights:

Resident arrested for brandishing handgun at gas station

A man and a woman were arrested on the night of Nov. 9 following a confrontation at a gas station involving two men and a handgun, according to West Bloomfield Police Lt. Tim Diamond.

A 23-year-old West Bloomfield resident is alleged to have brandished a handgun at two other men around 11:30 p.m. following a verbal altercation, according to Diamond. The man had pulled in to make a purchase at the station on 14 Mile Road just west of Farmington Road, next to a car with two other men, who were purchasing gas, police said. As the man went inside, eye contact was made between the two men and the female passenger, a 20-year-old Southfield resident, Diamond said.

As the man returned to his vehicle, he spoke with the female passenger, then confronted the two other men and showed them the handgun he was carrying underneath the driver's seat, a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson, he said.

"He didn't point it at them, he just pulled it out and made sure they saw it," Diamond said.

The man and woman drove away in a white Dodge Charger headed north on Farmington Road when the two other men made contact with police, who pulled over the car, Diamond said. Officers got permission to search the vehicle and uncovered four bags of what was suspected to be marijuana in the trunk, which the woman claimed as hers, Diamond said. Both were arrested and taken to the station.

It is unclear if the man and woman had been tested for drugs. Both were charged with misdemeanors — the man for reckless handling of a handgun and the woman for drug possession, Diamond said. According to Diamond, they were released from the station with tickets.

Voter harassed on election day

A person circulating a petition to recall state Rep. Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield) was accosted by another person at midday Nov. 8, according to Diamond.

In what Diamond described as the only incident in which police were called regarding voting during the election, the person shouted at the petitioner and followed the petitioner around the precinct before police arrived to the scene. Diamond said there were no crimes committed and everyone involved was advised to go their separate ways.

Identity theft suspect rings up $12,000 in purchases

A 54-year-old West Bloomfield resident was the victim of identity theft in a case reported Nov. 12 involving $12,000 of purchased merchandise, according to Diamond.

The resident, a Chrysler employee, reported fraudulent purchases were made on credit cards that did not belong to him at local chain stores, including Macy's, Nordstrom, Best Buy and Target, Diamond said. The resident told police he believes his colleagues at Chrysler may being targeted for reasons unclear. Police are investigating the claim, Diamond said.

"This is why we suggest that people don't let the mail pile up," Diamond said. "It's just so easy for someone to go through that and find all that they need to sign up for a credit card using your name."

If you have any questions or concerns about this report, e-mail Tim.Rath@Patch.com.