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Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013
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Armed bandit scouting stores, M.P. police say
TIMELINE OF ROBBERIES
More than one suspect?
5. FEB. 18 AT 2 P.M. Cash Advance, 100 S. Mission St.
By Tony Wittkowski Senior Reporter
The Mount Pleasant Police Department have made a connection in the string of armed robberies in addition to similar descriptions of the suspect. Mount Pleasant police public information officer Jeff Thompson said the male suspect involved in the armed robberies has continuously chosen businesses with one employee and no customers present in order to cut back on witnesses, he says. “It is our observation that the suspect is waiting for a window of opportunity by targeting businesses with a low amount of foot traffic and one clerk,” Thompson said. Each business that has been hit has fit this description with the lack of customers, which would explain why the suspect would do this during the day, he said. Thompson said police want to deter the suspect from another armed robbery and are doing everything they can to find him but do not want him to disappear and go free all together. “We don’t want to give out the specifics, but we are using all available resources and following every lead,” Thompson said. Michigan State Police said Tuesday evening the suspect involved in the early Saturday robbery of Next Door Food Store, 2025 E. Remus Road, may not be the same suspect involved in the other four robberies. Businesses should also be aware of their surroundings and
FILE PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE BODAK/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SKETCH FROM MICHIGAN STATE POLICE
Police provided this sketch of a they believe committed the armed robbery Saturday morning, not have been involved in other robberies.
man first may four
report any suspicious individuals who are spotted around the area matching the description, he said. “We would rather respond to suspicious activity than show up too late when there could have been something done,” Thompson said. A fifth armed robbery was reported Monday afternoon at a check-cashing store Cash Advance, 100 S. Mission St., near the corner of Mission and Broadway Streets, approximately 1.5 miles north of campus. At about 2:12 p.m., a Central Alert was issued describing the suspect as a Hispanic male with a black handgun. Police say he was wearing a dark coat, blue and white-striped athletic pants, black gloves and a blue and black plaid baseball cap with ear flaps.
Several businesses along Mission Street are taking extra safety measures in light of the five reported armed robberies. Michael Sly, manager at Dollar Daze, 924 S. Mission St., said the robberies have caused his employees to double-check everything, including locking their doors. “We have been limiting the amount of cash we have on hand, and we do have a security system, which helps us feel a little more secure,” he said. Sly said police called them Sunday night about what was going on and to warn them to keep an eye out for people matching the description of the subject. “We’re definitely taking more precautions, and you don’t want to be in fear of
FILE PHOTO BY JEFFREY SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
3. FEB. 17 AT 4:35 P.M. Next Door Food Store, 1324 High St.
FILE PHOTO BY JEFFREY SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A POLICE | 2A
Mission Street businesses more aware, secure after string of armed robberies By Tony Wittkowski Senior Reporter
4. FEB.17 AT 10:56 P.M. Subway, 203 N . Mission St.
2. FEB. 16 AT 12:22 P.M. Advance America, 1717 Suite B South Mission St.
it,” Sly said. “You just have to know what to do if it happens.” Central Michigan University Police Chief Bill Yeagley said police departments have been reaching out to offices and reviewing the basic procedures over what an employee should do in the event of an armed robbery. “The bottom line is to cooperate,” Yeagley said. “It is just money, and we do not want anyone to fight with the individual; just get them out of there and call the police immediately.” Another method Yeagley said would work is for businesses to try to not have only one employee working, because the larger the crowd, the safer it will be, he says. A BUSINESSES | 2A
FILE PHOTO BY JEFFREY SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
1. FEB. 16 AT 12:05 A.M. Next Door Food Store, 2025 E.. Remus Road
COURTSEY OF MOUNT PLEASANT POLICE DEPARTMENT
A man described as Hispanic man was caught on tape during an alleged armed robbery Monday afternoon at Cash Advance, 1717 Suite B South Mission St (photo above).
Hartley: ‘Porn is empowering for those it empowers’ By Ryan Fitzmaurice Staff Reporter
CHUCK MILLER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Porn star Nina Hartley talks on stage at Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium Tuesday evening as part of the “Great Porn Debate.” Hartley and anti-porn pastor Craig Gross discussed the pros and cons of the adult film industry. Hartley replaced porn icon Ron Jeremy after he suffered a heart aneurysm.
Porn actress Nina Hartley and anti-porn pastor Craig Gross battled it out Tuesday night at Platcha Auditorium for the “Great Porn Debate” in front of about 950 students. Standing to the right was Gross, the founder of XXXchurch.com, a non-profit religious-based organization focused on helping individuals who struggle with pornography addiction. On the left was Hartley, who has acted in more than
600 adult film titles and is an ardent public advocate for women’s rights and sexual self-awareness. Porn star Ron Jeremy was tapped to speak at the event until he suffered a heart aneurysm Jan. 30. “Jeremy texted me a couple days after and said ‘Don’t worry, I’m still making it to that debate in February,’” Gross said. “I was like, ‘No, you’re not, you’re making it back to the hospital.’” Gross said a lot of people have a problem with him picking on porn, but he said
he had good reason to. One of his main issues is with the industry itself. “If you want to make it in the industry, you have to do more and more disgusting things (that) you’d never do in real life,” Gross said, “... No girl, when she was on the cheerleading team or soccer team, thought “I can’t wait until I win Group Sex Scene in the Adult Video Network Awards.” Gross’ other problem with porn was the effect it had on individuals watching it and the relationships those individuals are in.
“It’s hard to say, ‘Please watch porn responsibly,’” Gross said. “What you see on the screen, you’re going to want to do in real life.” Hartley, though, said porn is no different from any other media that one consumes on a regular basis. “There’s nothing to say that sexual media affects us any differently than other media,” Hartley said. “All of them are trying to affect you. That’s their purpose, whether it’s advertising, television or porn.” A DEBATE | 2A