Michigan sheriff's office offers 'Valentine's Day Special' for ex-lovers with warrants
Its "special" includes a set of limited-edition platinum bracelets, free transportation with a chauffeur, a minimum one-night stay with "luxurious accommodations" and a professional glamour shot posted online. Dinner's included, too, according to a post on the office's Facebook page announcing the "2025 Valentine's Day Special."
But this "special" isn't just for anyone. It's aimed at folks with outstanding warrants or those suspected of crimes. The bracelets are handcuffs, the chauffeur is a law enforcement officer, the stay is at the lockup, and the glamour shot is well, you guessed it, a mugshot.
"Do you have an ex-Valentine with outstanding warrants? Do you have information that they are driving with drugs or weapons in the vehicle? Give us a call with their location and we will take care of the rest," the office's post reads. "This special is too sweet to pass up! Don't wait! Operators are standing by at 734-243-7070!"
Sheriff Troy Goodnough told the Free Press on Wednesday that he believes he brought the "Valentine's Day Special" to his department about three years ago after hearing about something similar done by other law enforcement agencies outside of Michigan.
He said he thought the idea was "kind of an interesting concept." Law enforcement is often serious, but this offers a little levity.
"It's my job to rewrite the narrative," Goodnough said, adding that it's also "my job as sheriff to be the voice for the victims. Let's hold these individuals accountable. We do it with a little laughter and fun."
Goodnough said the office hasn't kept statistics on the numbers of calls or arrests made through the "Valentine's Day Special" in prior years, but said it's going to try to do so this year. But, he adds, "we've always been very productive."
Anecdotally, he said, the office has had — and anticipates this year — at least a handful of calls from this effort and three to 10 arrests. There were more the first year it launched, he said. This year's "Valentine's Day Special" launched Tuesday and ends Sunday, he said, but the office will get calls afterward, too.
The one thing for folks to keep in mind is the effort is mainly for victims or suspects in Monroe County, the rural county sandwiched between the cities of Detroit and Toledo.
Goodnough says his office can't take calls, for example, about someone living in neighboring Wayne County or another county. He said his office will get calls about an ex-spouse living in the Upper Peninsula or Kent County, but it will direct callers to authorities there who can help them in those counties.
However, if someone lives in northern Michigan, for example, and there is a warrant for someone they know in Monroe County, he said, "we have the authority. We'll pick him up. We'd love to hear about (that)."
A quick online search Thursday showed that some other sheriff's offices and law enforcement agencies across the country are offering a similar "special" this year. Here's just a few examples:
In Guernsey County, Ohio, which is about 90 minutes east of Columbus, the sheriff's office, in a Facebook post about its "package" and "romantic getaway" stated: "Valentine's Day is creeping up faster than your ex's last text!" It ends: "Let's ensure your ex gets the love they deserve this Valentine's Day! Please turn in your tip and let's get this party started!"
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office in Florida posted on its Facebook page Thursday: "Love is in the air ... and so are some outstanding warrants! Know someone who deserves a special Valentine's Day tomorrow? Let us know anonymously! Our deputies are ready to deliver a memorable visit."
The Marlboro County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina offered a slightly different take in its Facebook post, showing wanted posters of people with outstanding child support warrants, and the Nueces County Sheriff's Office in Texas posted its top 10 most wanted list in a Facebook post.
Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press.
Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Monroe County Sheriff's Office: 'Valentine's Day Special' for exes
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Former Heat security officer pleads guilty to theft of jerseys
A former Miami Heat security officer accused of stealing hundreds of game-worn jerseys pleaded guilty to transporting and transferring stolen goods across state lines in the Southern District of Florida on Tuesday. Marcos Tomas Perez, 62, had previously worked as a police officer for the city of Miami for 25 years before his employment with the Heat from 2016 to 2021 and then as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025. According to allegations described by the U.S. Attorney's Office in a statement, Perez stole more than 400 jerseys and other items from a secured equipment room and sold them to online brokers, including more than 100 stolen items over a period of three-plus years for which he garnered $1.9 million, often selling items below market value. Perez allegedly had access to the equipment room because he worked game-day security at the Kaseya Center. The equipment room had memorabilia set aside for a future Heat museum. RELATED STORIES: Ex-Miami Heat security officer charged in theft of more than 400 jerseys Heat probe includes game-used jerseys from LeBron, Shaq, D-Wade Sources: Stolen Miami Heat memorabilia at center of federal probe A court filing related to the plea agreement alleged Perez would tell a co-worker he had to use the bathroom (or offer another excuse) and take the key, open the equipment room and leave the door propped open before returning the key. Later, he would return to steal items from the room. According to the same document, Perez utilized a third-party liaison to broker the deals, splitting the profits. Then he used his corporate entity, South Florida Signature Authenticators Incorporated, to sell the items. Platforms identified in the document as venues for him advertising and negotiating deals include OfferUp, eBay and Instagram. The most notable example cited by the U.S. Attorney's Office was LeBron James' jersey from Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals, which he sold for $100,000. That jersey would go on to fetch $3.7 million in an auction at Sotheby's. A Heat spokesperson declined cllct's request for comment. A Sotheby's spokesperson also declined to comment. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez's home April 3, recovering nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia, which the Heat confirmed had been stolen from its facility, according to the statement. Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Prosecutors: Uniformed Detroit cop assaulted, pointed gun at mother of his children
An ex-Detroit police officer is accused of following the mother of his children into a parking lot on the city's west side, holding her at gunpoint and assaulting her while in uniform. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday, Aug. 19, announced it was charging Justice Calvin, 31, with assault with a dangerous weapon, felony firearm, larceny from the person and domestic violence. He turned himself in earlier the same day, according to a media release from Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office. Calvin, who was an officer at the time, allegedly trailed the woman in his vehicle to the parking lot of a nursing home at Schaefer and Fenkell just before midnight on Jan. 26, the release said. Once in the parking lot, he pointed his gun at her and forcefully removed her from the passenger side of her vehicle, then physically assaulted her. Calvin was due to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in 36th District Court. The Detroit Police Department did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Violet Ikonomova is a reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at vikonomova@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit officer accused of assaulting mother of his children with gun
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Amber Alert issued in GA for 2 missing FL children, may be traveling to Atlanta area
A Levi's Call, Georgia's version of an Amber Alert, was issued Tuesday for a missing 3-year-old and 11-year-old last seen in Tift County. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Akachi Turner, 11, and Aizon Turner, 3, were traveling in a black Toyota with front end damage at 8 a.m. Monday with Audrey Turner. The children are believed to be in extreme danger, the GBI said. People are urged to call 911 or the Riviera Beach Police Department at 561-845-4123. Akachi was wearing a black shirt, black pants and black Fila sneakers. Aizon was wearing a khaki shirt, khaki shorts and black light-up shoes with a red trim. Audrey Turner was wearing a black tank top, cream shirt with black stripes, a nose ring, and a pony tail. Direction of travel is unknown, but a previous Amber Alert in Florida said they may be heading to the Atlanta area. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Aizon is described as 3 feet tall, weighing 32 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Akachi Turner is described as 5 feet tall, weighing 72 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Audrey Turner, a female, who is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs 180 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. They also may be accompanied by an unknown female. They were last seen in Florida in Riviera Beach. The Florida alert was issued after the children were last seen in the area of the 1200th block of West 6th Street. TRENDING STORIES: Suspect in I-75 hit-and-run that killed truck driver identified as ex-Milton police lieutenant Walton County man says First Liberty took his $750K investment, 'looked me in the eyes and lied' Man charged with murder after woman found with head injuries in northwest Atlanta [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Solve the daily Crossword
