St. Clair County

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

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

“Anthony’s Autism Awareness” Provides Sensory Boxes to Emergency Vehicles

Emergency vehicles throughout the county are now equipped with sensory boxes for use in assisting in contacts with people on the autism spectrum. The sensory boxes are being assembled and donated by Anthony’s Autism Awareness, a local non-profit.

The Marysville Police/Fire/EMS department, Port Huron City Police, Port Huron Fire Department, Fort Gratiot Fire Department, and St. Clair County Sheriff are the latest recipients of the boxes and the hope is to get more sensory boxes in the hands of more departments. Sensory boxes contain items like fidget spinners and small toys that might help those on the spectrum with relaxation during a stressful situation.

Anthony’s Autism Awareness is accepting donations to help buy the items. The boxes cost about $7 each with the goal being to have them in every police car or emergency responder vehicle in St. Clair County.

The mission of the non-profit is to “encourage awareness, acceptance and understanding in the community and offer support and resources to people with autism, and their families”.

More information is on the Anthony’s Autism Awareness Facebook page.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Sheriff’s Office Phone Number Being Used in Scam

St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King is advising residents to be extra vigilant in watching for the latest scam to hit the area.  The latest involves a suspect calling the victim saying he must buy Green Dot or other types of cards or they will be arrested.  One person was told he had missed jury duty and had to buy a $400 Green Dot card and give the caller the confirmation number.  The suspect had somehow rigged the call so that the Sheriff’s Office main number showed on the victim’s caller ID.

“I want everyone to know that the Sheriff’s Office does not make calls to collect money,” said Sheriff King.  “If anyone receives that type of call, immediately hang up.  Do not give out any personal information and do not purchase any type of financial transaction device.  Then call our office to make a report.”

Sheriff King went on to say there are numerous types of scams that are occurring and likely will continue in the future.

To avoid being a victim of email or phone scams, Sheriff King has the following tips:

  • Do not answer calls from unknown phone numbers. If you must pick up, refuse to engage with telemarketers over the phone. While some seem friendly, they may attempt to sell products or services you do not want or need. Or, they may attempt to gain access to your money. Do not worry about offending anyone. Firmly say, “Remove us from your calling list.” You needn’t provide an explanation. Then, hang up.
  • Do not open emails you do not recognize. Avoid clicking on links that may bring you to fake websites that often look real. If you receive an email with spelling errors, it could be a red flag.
  • If a company or individual tells you to make payments in the form of gift-cards, or tells you to keep their call a secret, it’s a scam.
  • Register your phone number on the national do not call list, utilize caller ID to avoid answering unwanted calls from solicitors, or block numbers if receiving repeated calls.
  • Anyone who contacts you to demand money, and threatens or harasses you for payments, should be reported to your local police. If you receive an unwanted call after your number was on the National Do Not Call Registry for 30 days, report it to the FTC.

Submitted by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office