Latest news with #KentCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kentwood social worker accused of trying to send explicit image to student
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Kentwood Public Schools social worker accused of inappropriate communication with multiple children has been charged with two felonies. Dequindre Wiggins, 26, was arraigned Friday on charges of accosting children for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime. School social worker arrested for 'inappropriate' contact Investigators say that earlier this month, a parent came forward to report the inappropriate communication. Court records allege Wiggins tried to send a student an explicit photo through Snapchat. While investigating, the school resource officer discovered that Wiggins had additional contact with other children online, the Kent County Sheriff's Office previously said. Wiggins was arrested in Lexington, Kentucky, on May 21 and had to be brought back to Michigan to face charges. At arraignment, his bond was set at $20,000. He's expected back in court for hearings June 11 and June 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Deputies: Teen arrested after school threat on Snapchat
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A 14-year-old Kentwood student was taken into custody Monday after an investigation regarding a threatening post online, deputies say. The Kent County Sheriff's Office says it got a tip Sunday through Michigan's school safety tip line, OK2SAY, about a threat made on Snapchat. Authorities say the post contained a 'specific threat' to Pinewood Middle School. Deputies launched an investigation, which led them to the 14-year-old. They searched the teen's home and said no guns were found. OK2SAY saw 31% increase in reporting in 2023 The teen was taken to the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center. Deputies urged parents to talk with their kids about the consequences of online threats and about reporting such threats. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
West Michigan Tesla building vandalized, deputies say
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Kent County and federal investigators are looking into a report of vandalism at a Tesla manufacturing facility near Grand Rapids. It happened sometime between Friday night and Monday morning at the site off Patterson Avenue SE near 52nd Street, the Kent County Sheriff's Office said. The sheriff's office said an office building had some minor damage to a window. No workers were there when it happened. Michigan protesters rally against Musk in 'Tesla Takedown' demonstrations Tesla dealerships and chargers around the country and overseas have been the in recent weeks as founder Elon Musk makes cuts in federal spending through the new Department of Government Efficiency. Citing the national trend, the Kent County Sheriff's Office has called in the FBI to help look into what happened in Cascade Township. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Statewide campaign aims to crack down on distracted driving
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Police agencies across the state are participating in a campaign this month to enforce the hands-free law and crack down on distracted driving. It's part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, the goal of the campaign is to reduce distracted driving crashes and keep the roads safe. The Kent County Sheriff's Office — one of dozens of participating agencies — says it is adding extra deputies to patrols with a special focus on distracted driving. 'We want people to make it home safely. We are going to be out proactively enforcing this law to help keep our roads safe, which includes writing citations to those driving distracted,' stated Sgt. Scott Dietrich with the sheriff's office. Michigan's hands-free law took effect in 2023. Under , drivers can't hold a phone or any other device, and they can't use their hands to operate a dashboard-mounted device beyond a single touch. The hands-free law isn't just about texting and driving — it also applies to activities like using a navigation system, scrolling social media and making calls. The first violation can lead to a $100 fine and/or 16 hours of community service, while the second violation can yield a $250 fine and/or 24 hours of community service. Drivers who have three offenses within a three-year period will have to take a driving improvement course. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Deputies: Alpine Township murder suspect had multiple aliases
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Fake names and multiple aliases created some obstacles for Kent County sheriff's deputies as they worked to find the man responsible for a shooting north of Grand Rapids that left one woman dead and two others injured. Gilberto Hernandez-Mendez, 42, is charged with murder and other counts in the shooting that killed 56-year-old Norma Ramirez-Martinez and seriously injured her two adult daughters — one of them Mendez's girlfriend — in Alpine Township early Saturday. 1 killed, 2 seriously hurt in Alpine Twp shooting A spokesperson with the Kent County Sheriff's Office told News 8 the department had to ask federal agencies for help finding Mendez after it was given a different name. Documents obtained by News 8 show Mendez has also gone by Kevin Gonzalez, Gerardo Mendez and Arcadio Vargos over the past several years he has been in West Michigan. 'We do know that he resided at that residence (where the shooting happened), the best information that we can tell. And he's resided in the West Michigan area for an extended period of time,' Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir said. One of the aliases associated with Mendez had a deportation history attached to it. Officials with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement department confirmed that Mendez is a Mexican citizen and has been living in West Michigan illegally. Man charged with murdering girlfriend's mother, injuring two others 'While he does have a felony on his record, he was 17. He's now 42, so my math tells me that was 25 years ago,' said Craig Haehnel, the defense attorney who represented Mendez at arraignment. 'He's had some misdemeanors, but he has never failed to appear. He's been employed for the past 15 years as a self-employed painter.' The sheriff's office told News 8 that Mendez was previously deported. It is unclear when and how he made his way back to the states. He is now on immigration hold for ICE at the Kent County jail as he awaits his preliminary hearing in the murder case next month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
