By Staff
THREE OAKS - A late night traffic stop resulted in the arrest of an Indiana man for a concealed weapons violation and a traffic warrant from the Three Oaks Police Department. It also revealed a possible fraud ring, the police report said.
The suspect that was arrested was in possession of numerous donation containers for Hurricane Katrina relief. These containers included large boxes and sealed tubes to donate money, according to the report.
The troopers conducting the traffic stop were suspicious of the explanation given by the occupants and determined that the occupants weren't members of a military branch, the report said.
One of the suspects had indicated that he was a member of the Michigan National Guard and was organizing the relief donation containers at Meijer stores in Indiana and was traveling to Michigan area stores.
The containers were white boxes or tubes with orange tape on the inside, the report stated. On the side were markings, "Donations for United States Civil Relief Services Louisanna, New Orleans (To be picked up by military personel only), including the spelling errors, the report said.
Jayson D. Wing, 31, of South Bend, Ind. was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, a double edged knife, and lodged in the Niles City jail.
Wing was arraigned at the Fifth District Court on Tuesday, Sept. 13, on the charge of carrying a concealed weapon.
Authorities from the Michigan National Guard confirmed Wing was a member for a brief period in 2004, according to the report. He hasn't been a member of their organization since April 2004. Wing has no permission from any military branch to solicit donations for a private trip to the Gulf Coast, according to the report.
Retail establishments and the public should only donate to recognized charity organizations and use sound judgment when solicited for donations.
Anyone in the Niles area who think they have fraudulent donation containers should call Detective/Sergeant Fabian Suarez of the Michigan State Police at (269) 683-4411.