Reginald Cu-Nu Grasty

Grayfox Homicide Suspect Arrested and Arraigned

On January 19, 2021, at the request of the Port Huron Police Department, the United States Marshals Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team did locate and arrest Reginald Cu-Nu Grasty in the City of Detroit near Jefferson and Conner Street.

Grasty was taken into custody without incident. He was transferred to Port Huron and placed in custody of the Port Huron Police Major Crimes Unit. Grasty was interviewed and lodged in the St. Clair County Intervention Center on the charges of Open Murder and Disinterment / Mutilation of a Corpse. Grasty was arraigned yesterday on those charges.

His bond was set at $750,000.00. Grasty has a Probable Cause Conference scheduled for February 2, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. in front of the Honorable Judge Mona Armstrong. 

On June 23, 2020, the Port Huron Police Department responded to the Grayfox (a former Navy vessel) at 60 Griswold Street, regarding a deceased person. On June 25, 2020 the St. Clair County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on the victim. The death was ruled a homicide, cause of death was trauma related. 

On July 1, 2020, the victim of the homicide on the Grayfox was identified as William Michael Orlow, a 44 year old male Port Huron resident.

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department

Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home Kicks Off Friendraising Campaign

Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home is a nonprofit assisted living facility in Port Huron that cares for low income seniors. Their mission includes providing an affordable, comfortable, and safe home while also providing activities that improve their resident’s quality of life.

The home is managed by Blue Water Developmental Housing, Inc, and it’s Executive Director, Kathy Swantek, is encouraging the community to support this year’s Friendraising Campaign.

This year’s fundraising event will take place virtually and support the efforts of Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home to reserve space for residents who are unable to pay for services. They work with community partners to identify those in need, and provide them with housing and medical care.

“Donations from fundraisers like this one help us help those who are most vulnerable in our community. Your dollars make a direct impact on the care they receive,” said Swantek.

The campaign goal is to raise $10,000, and donations can be made online by visiting their event page on Eventbrite <HERE> from now until March 31, 2021.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

MDHHS Targeting Ads at Vaccine Skeptics

No one wants the COVID-19 pandemic over with more than the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. They have been at the forefront of both managing the state’s response to the virus and promoting vaccination. The latest campaign by the MDHHS is a $1.5 million multimedia program designed to help Michiganders feel more comfortable with the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

There is significant hesitancy in getting the vaccine. According to MDHHS, 66% of Michiganders are likely or very likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine and 34% would like to get it as soon as possible. They report that 47% of white Michiganders are very likely to get the vaccine while only 25% of black Michiganders are very likely to get the vaccine.

The reasons that people don’t want to get the vaccine include concerns about side effects, reluctance to be a “test subject”, needing to know more about the vaccine’s safety, wanting to know more about the long-term performance of the vaccine, questions about effectiveness, and concerns about political motivations to pushing the vaccine through safety tests. 

The multimedia campaign will target the concerns and promote the safety of the vaccine. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

McLaren Settles with DEA Over “Prescribing Irregularities”

McLaren Health Care entered into a legal settlement with the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices pertaining to retail pharmacy operations at McLaren Port Huron.

According to a press release from McLaren, the agreement stems from a lengthy effort with the DEA, which discovered “prescribing irregularities” in 2018, which led to the firing of a pharmacist who was diverting opioids for personal use. The DEA found problems with recordkeeping, dispensing, and distributing controlled substances dating back to before McLaren acquired Port Huron Hospital.

April Rudoni, Interim Compliance Director and Chair of McLaren’s Controlled Substance Oversight Committee, said, “Our health system takes compliance very seriously and regrets any instance in which we do not meet our regulators’ requirements or our own high standards. From the moment the DEA’s first concern was brought to our attention we have worked diligently to strengthen protocols across our system. I am proud of the culture of accountability and compliance we maintain and look forward to continued collaboration with the DEA moving forward.”

McLaren reportedly paid over $7.7 million in the settlement and entered into a three-year plan to prevent future violations.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

RESA Provides Free WiFi for Students

St. Clair County RESA is providing free, 24-hour, high-speed Wi-Fi access across the county to local students, faculty, and staff who may not have high-speed internet connectivity at home. 

RESA’s IT Department has set up the hotspots in school parking lots across the county so users can maintain social distancing while accessing the internet from their cars. The project was made possible by a Michigan MiConnect grant. 

“This technology will help support our students, staff, and families who live in areas of our county that don’t have high-speed internet service,” said St. Clair County RESA Superintendent Dr. Kevin Miller. “This is exactly what we are trying to accomplish in conjunction with our Community Educational Network, formed a few years ago to use our RESA fiber network to reach homes without reliable, secure, and high-speed internet, which is critical during times of remote learning.” 

The Wi-Fi hotspots allow students without internet access and those with unstable or slow home service to drive to locations across the county to get free and fast connections. The service provides a full range of internet usage from an individual’s personal device, such as viewing websites, downloading materials, and logging in to instructional programs. At all of the hotspots, students and staff will be able to connect to the network using their school credentials. 

RESA is working with local communities to expand the number of these “drive-in” internet locations. 

Parking lot WiFi locations and directions on how to connect to the network are available on the RESA website at www.sccresa.org.

Submitted by St. Clair County RESA

Become an Angel for People Seeking Recovery

Families Against Narcotics (FAN) created the Hope Not Handcuffs program to offer another avenue to recovery for those struggling with substance abuse. The program trains law enforcement to connect those who want help with a program volunteer,  or Angel, to help them find a treatment option.

Because of the Hope Not Handcuffs program, anyone struggling with a substance use disorder can go to a participating police agency and ask for help. They will receive support, compassion, and respect as they are guided through the intake process.

Becoming an Angel on the Hope Not Handcuffs team requires an online application process and virtual training program. Angels help participating organizations with intake paperwork and support clients until a treatment option is found. They are required to volunteer to be on call 8 hours a month.

For more information on Angel training and to register for upcoming trainings in January and February, visit familiesagainstnarcotics.org/hopenothandcuffs-angel.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand