Springfield
6 face charges following medical marijuana raids
SPRINGFIELD, Mich. (AP) — Six people have been charged following raids last June on three medical marijuana dispensaries in southern Michigan that authorities said were operating illegally.
The Calhoun County prosecutor issued warrants Friday in the Springfield raids and Michigan State Police have begun to make arrests.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Matt Smith told the Battle Creek Enquirer that the warrants were issued for employees and owners of The Karmacy and two other dispensaries. Charges include delivery of marijuana and possession with intent to deliver.
Bruce Leach, a lawyer representing Karmacy owner Kiel Howland, said his client surrendered on Monday and he’s confident that Howland will be exonerated. All three dispensaries were licensed by the city of Springfield and Leach said Karmacy earlier was inspected by law enforcement.
“Everything was completely legal,” Leach said. “This is a little ridiculous. They are not criminals but they are being turned into criminals.”
Richfield
State: Landfill might be mined for recyclables
RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — The state says a company wants to buy a Genesee County landfill and possibly mine it for buried recyclables in an operation that would be unique in Michigan.
The Flint Journal reports Clarkston-based TerRenova offered $1 million for the shuttered Richfield Landfill in Richfield Township, about 50 miles northwest of Detroit.
TerRenova has been negotiating with a U.S. Bankruptcy Court trustee to buy the landfill, which an unsold asset of another business.
TerRenova last month applied for a license to operate the landfill and state DEQ officials say the application is currently under review.
Grand Rapids
No deal reached in case of alleged abuse by agents
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — After more than three hours of discussion, attorneys didn’t reach a settlement in a lawsuit that accuses immigration agents of abusing a Hispanic woman and her son in Grand Rapids.
Records show lawyers for the government and Luis and Telma Valdez met privately Monday with a federal judge.
Luis Valdez is a U.S. citizen, and his mother Telma is a permanent resident. They say agents drew guns, handcuffed them and interrogated them when they arrived in a car to see a relative’s dog in 2011.
Their lawsuit says an agent threatened them to keep quiet when he realized they’re legal residents. The government denies many of the allegations.
