Crime Blotter: Driver Hits Tree, Takes Nap Afterward

Tree Falls Down, Driver Falls Asleep

A driver struck a 12-foot-tall deciduous tree before slumping over his wheel and then fleeing the scene June 5 at the 53000 block of Ashley, said.

At approximately 8:50 p.m., police arrived at Ashley and McKinley streets where witnesses reported a man in a gray vehicle completely knocked over a tree. A witness told police he saw the driver hit the tree and slump forward over the steering wheel afterward. When the witness ran over to check on the driver, he fled the scene. Another person told police he could identify the man as someone he knew, police said.

When police came to the home where that man stayed, they found a vehicle that "smelled of fresh-cut tree" with damage matching that from the scene. The homeowner was alerted to the incident and told police the man suspected as the driver was home sleeping. Once awake, he denied driving around that time or getting into an accident, police said.

He was arrested on outstanding warrants for unrelated incidents. The following day, he confessed to hitting the tree and fleeing because he had a suspended driver's license at the time, police said.

Not Jumped By Jump Rope -Wielding Kids

Police were dispatched June 12 to the parking lot on reports several kids were beating a girl with a jump rope.

However, when the officer arrived, there was no jumping of any kind. About 10 to 15 children were standing around talking to each other and no one was fighting, police said.

Green Means Stop

Vandals apparently hoped motorists got their signals crossed.

They painted a stop sign green, spraying on the word "go," in mid-June at the 25 Mile and County Line intersection, police said.

New Baltimore police contacted the Road Commission of Macomb County about the issue.