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cm-life.com
Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013
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Bond raised for former student who put bleach in roommate’s iced tea Kayla A. Bonkowski no longer allowed in Isabella County By Tony Wittkowski Senior Reporter
A former Central Michigan University student who allegedly poisoned her roommate has bonded out of jail after her bond was raised to $50,000 Monday. Kayla A. Bonkowski’s new bond conditions, set by Judge William T. Ervin, include an increase from $20,000 to $50,000, a 10 p.m. curfew every day of the week, and she is not allowed to return to Isabella County unless it is for court or to consult with her attorney. “There’s no question in my mind that the defendant knew what she was doing,” Ervin said. “I don’t know what possessed her to come back to Mount Pleasant and go to the bar.” As previously reported by Central Michigan Life, Bonkowski, 19, allegedly went to Wayside Central, 2000 S. Mission St., Jan. 9 and made contact with the victim, violating
the personal protection order and entering a place that served alcohol. As a result, Bonkowski spent 13 days in Isabella County Jail for violating her original bond conditions. Bonkowski allegedly put bleach in her 20-year-old roommate’s iced tea Nov. 7 at their Jamestown apartment following an argument over dirty dishes, according to court documents. After consuming the iced tea, Bonkowski’s roommate was taken to the hospital for treatment and later reported the incident to authorities. A petition for a personal protection order against Bonkowski by the victim was authorized by Isabella County Prosecutor Risa Scully and issued Dec. 3. “My main concern is to protect the victim, and, in my mind, the defendant knew what she was doing,” Ervin said. “It was less clear what her intention was.” Mount Pleasant attorney Todd Levitt, representing Bonkowski, said 13 days in jail was enough and that she be released with the bond reinstated.
PHOTOS BY JEFFREY SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Weidman resident Jim Janetski plays the keyboard Nov. 28, 2012 in his living room. Blinded in an accident more than 30 years ago, Janetski was also diagnosed with colon cancer in 1999, and had a colostomy and other treatments until it went into remission. “I love music, it’s helped me through my cancer a lot more than I ever thought,” he said. He now suffers from severe allergies, asthma and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure earlier this year. Janetski also finds relief from medical marijuana, though it has gotten him into legal troubles.
Beating the street
ABONKOWSKI | 2A
Student hospitalized after falling from second-story window Saturday night By Tony Wittkowski Senior Reporter
A male Central Michigan University student fell from the second-story window of an apartment early Saturday morning after police broke up the house party he was attending. Medical personnel were called to a house at 715 S. Kinney Road, commonly known to students as “The Alamo,” after the student was discovered by an officer who noticed people standing around a male subject who was on the ground and unresponsive, Mount Pleasant Public Information officer Jeff Thompson said via e-mail. The student is still receiving medical attention, and Thompson said there has been no additional information indicating whether the student’s injuries are fatal. Samantha Johnson, a Grand Rapids sophomore, witnessed the event at the party Friday night. “I was at the Alamo with one of my friends, and everyone started to flee,” Johnson
A look at the drug-chasing Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team By Tony Wittkowski | Senior Reporter
The Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team is known in some circles for its drug-related
said. “I looked over, and this guy is dangling from the second-story window. I turned away, heard him fall and heard his head hit the railing.” First aid was administered, and the student was taken to McLaren-Central Michigan, 1221 South Drive, for medical attention for his injuries. Johnson said her friends ran over to him and kept saying, “Man, are you kidding me?” She also noticed he had sustained a gash starting from the top of his head down to the end of his chin. “I saw a pool of blood, and it freaked me out, actually,” Johnson said. “The cops had been there, along with two others who were around him.” Other witnesses reported the subject slipped and fell, striking a guard rail on the ground-level porch. Officers responded to a complaint of a nuisance party and made contact with one of the residents who was cooperating and attempting to clear the house, Thompson said.
arrests at Central Michigan University and other northern portions of the state. Referred to as BAYANET, the enforcement team consists of three multi-jurisdictional street-level drug enforcement teams, one mid-to-upper-level conspiracy team and houses the Third District Fugitive Team, according to the BAYANET website. Stephen Sipes, section commander of BAYANET, said there are two main offices within the department with the North Team that cover Isabella, Clare and Gladwin counties along with the Saginaw team working the Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties. “What we are after is the disruption of the drug organizations who sell and distribute narcotics,” Sipes said. “Ultimately, our goal is to get several levels above the street-level deal.”
A FALL | 2A
Sipes said the goal to arrest middle to upper-level distributors is difficult, since the lower-level people are higher in numbers and easier to target. “We arrest more people at the lower level with the intentions of getting to the upper and middle levels of the drug distribution that is going on,” Sipes said. “Not everybody who we arrest at the lower level can go up into the organization any further.” BAYANET has been in operation since 1981, with the teams monitoring drug traf-
Jim Janetski gets his blood drawn for testing Nov. 28, 2012 in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Janetski’s health has been under close supervision by doctors since he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and put on blood thinners.
“Next thing I know, they are in my house, and their idea was they were invited in, and that was not the case. It was my word against theirs, but they still should have had a warrant.” James Janetski, Weidman resident ficking in Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw counties. Over the years, the narcotic task force has received come under heat for instances of allegedly harsh treatment
toward people involved in drug-related offenses. At 62 years old, Weidman resident James Janetski has had first hand experience with BAYANET. A BAYANET| 2A
Local children rewarded for bravery during recent abduction of CMU student By Megan Pacer Staff Reporte r
ADAM NIEMI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
James Persyn III, 14, left, stands with his father James Persyn Jr., and Acelin Persyn, 11, after receiving Lifesaving Awards from Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski Tuesday night at the Isabella County Building, 200 N. Main St. James and Acelin received the awards for giving a Central Michigan University student refuge after escaping her captor on Jan. 16.
James Persyn III, 14, and his sister Acelin, 11, shook hands with reporter after reporter outside the Board of Commissioners room at the Isabella County Building Tuesday evening. At 7 p.m., Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski presented the Shepherd residents with “Lifesaving Awards” for their part in the protection and survival of a Central Michigan University student who was abducted outside of the Student Activity Center and later
sexually assaulted on Jan. 16. At the opening of the meeting, Chairperson George Green expressed his gratitude to the siblings, praising them for their acts of bravery that night when the victim sought entry into their home shortly after escaping her captor. “We are all very proud of what you did,” Green said. This is only the second time in eight years that Mioduszewski has given out the prestigious award. “These two went above and beyond what normal students would do,” Mio-
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duszewski said. “There’s no question in my mind that her captor intended on murdering her that evening. Fortunately for the victim, that’s the only reason she’s alive today ... she ran to James and Acelin, who were home at the time.” Mioduszewski was referring to the decision James and his sister made to let the CMU student into their home, conceal her in their bathroom and give her the phone to call police shortly before their father, James Persyn Jr., returned home. When asked what it
was that made him open the door to a stranger that night, James III was both humble and quick to answer. “Her voice,” James III said. “Just her panic.” In addition to their award, Mioduszewski gave them a two-night stay at the Soaring Eagle Water Park and Hotel, 5665 E. Pickard Road, with passes to one of the resort’s restaurants for the entire family. “I’m just really thankful,” James III said. “It’s definitely amazing.” metro@cm-life.com
February 8-10 & 14-17 For a complete Festival Guide to movies, places & times:
www.cmfilmfestival.com