A final day of testimony Monday concluded with 25th District Court Judge David Zelenak binding Holland and Adkins over to Circuit Court for a likely trial. Holland faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, a 15-year felony, second-degree
child abuse and accessory after the fact, a charge unrelated to the boy’s death but tied to allegations that Adkins grew marijuana plants at the Empire Street home.

Adkins is charged with owning a dangerous animal — a charge equivalent to involuntary manslaughter carrying a possible 15-year imprisonment — and intent to distribute and manufacture marijuana.

Holland and Kyle moved in with Adkins shortly before July 12, 2010, when police were called to Adkins’ house in the 1500 block of Empire Street after one of Adkins’ dogs mauled Kyle while he slept.

Before sending the matter to Circuit Court, numerous hearings presented testimony from police investigators, neighbors, friends and forensic experts. Kyle suffered more than 80 puncture wounds and 250 abrasions during the attack by a 90-pound German shepherd/husky mix.

Holland and Adkins remained free on bond, and are scheduled to be arraigned in Wayne County Circuit Court Monday, Feb. 13.

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)

Replacing Steve Duchane as the city’s full-time administrator has been a lingering question since he resigned in September, an issue debated among City Council members and during the November election. After conducting candidate interviews last month, the position was offered to Center Line City Manager John Michrina, who accepted pending contract negotiations.

Michrina was a longtime Monroe police officer who served as police chief and city manager there before accepting the Center Line job, where he also served as acting public safety officer.

Along with his lengthy public service, Diaz Krause said what may have clinched the offer was Michrina’s commitment to a community.

“The one thing the majority of the council seemed to be impressed with was that he said he’d move here,” Diaz Krause said.

Although some on Council questioned the need for a full-time administrator, Diaz Krause said the position is critical to municipal operations. She hopes that Michrina will supervise day-to-day operations at City Hall, and will also be aware of broader issues that could positively impact Lincoln Park.

“I want that person to be abreast of things in Lansing and Washington that affect us,” Diaz Krause said. “To be truly effective and keep the city in the game, they need to know what’s going on with grant opportunities or shared services.”

Bringing in a fresh perspective was a key element in Monday’s town hall meeting, held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 552. Dozens of residents — nearly 100 by some counts — participated in a three-hour session of discussion, ideas and public comment.

Diaz Krause opened the event, one promised during her mayoral campaign, with a semi-State of the City review of Lincoln Park’s current standing. As with many Downriver communities, declining revenues struggle to keep pace with expenses, and city services ranked among the top areas of resident concern. A recycling program, road improvements, park maintenance and other issues were raised by residents.

“I always ask people, ‘What is your solution? What are you willing to do to help?’ We ended up getting people to volunteer for various efforts.”

What’s on the minds of residents may not always be what elected officials assume, and along with the anticipated inquiries about preventing the floods of last summer from returning this year, Diaz Krause said that people asked about quality of life subjects including restarting a garden club, bringing back the Memorial Day parade and strengthening the city’s property maintenance ordinance.

“I saw spirit, and pride, and people coming together,’ Diaz Krause said.

Diaz Krause said she hopes to have the city manager on staff by the end of February, and would like to see town hall meetings held several times a year.

Police were called to a house in the 4100 block of Abbott Avenue shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday, by a woman who said she was sleeping when she heard two loud banging noises. As she woke up, her bedroom door was opened by a man holding a long, thin flashlight in one hand, and a large, black handgun in the other.

“Don’t call the police,” the man said, aiming the weapon at the woman. “We are the police.”

The man, described as wearing a white knit hat and long, beige jacket, left the room. The woman heard other voices, sounds of people “walking around her house and going through stuff,” according to police reports.

The suspect entered her room again and repeated the warning not to call the police. The woman heard someone else leaving the house, and the suspect soon closed the door and left.

Once the woman was certain there was no one in her home, she called 911. Nothing appeared to have been stolen, she said.

— James Mitchell

“My baby’s dead,” was the cry on Empire Street in July 2010.

Among the final witnesses heard during lengthy preliminary examinations in the dog-mauling death of 5-year-old Kyle Holland, neighbor Cindy Woods testified Jan. 6 before 25th District Court Judge David Zelenak. Woods said she often sat on her porch in the morning, and clearly recalled when she heard screaming from the home shared by Kyle’s mother, Debralynn Holland, and her boyfriend, Earl Dwayne Adkins.

After hearing Holland cry over her son’s death, Woods said she saw Adkins running in and out of the house and moving a vehicle around the corner before police arrived in response to Woods’ 911 call.

There, officers discovered Kyle, who had been mauled to death by a large dog belonging to Adkins.

Since September 2011, multiple hearings have been held to determine if Holland and Adkins will be bound over to circuit court, awaiting possible charges including manslaughter.

The most recent session included testimony from Darryl Qualls, Holland’s former boyfriend; Woods; another friend of Holland’s, and the first Lincoln Park detective to arrive on the scene.

One more witness is expected to testify Jan. 27 before Zelenak determines whether to bind the case over to circuit court.

Previous testimony included medical examiners and investigating officers, who explained the severity of Kyle’s wounds and injuries. The boy suffered more than 80 puncture wounds and 250 abrasions from a 90-pound German shepherd/husky mix; some have claimed the animal to be a wolf-dog hybrid. Zelenak previously explained that the dog’s breed is irrelevant to the charges of ownership of a dangerous animal and leaving a defenseless boy vulnerable to injury.

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)

A man parked the Jeep at his house in the 4000 block of Longtin Avenue around 10:30 p.m., and at 11:55 p.m. noticed it missing. He reported the theft to police, including the fact that the Jeep had a paper dealer’s plate in the rear window.

About 1:20 a.m., a patrol officer noticed the Jeep at a gas station near Fort and Cleveland streets, and saw the suspect, Robert Orville West Jr., leave the store and drive off. The officer attempted a traffic stop of the Jeep, which took off south on Fort Street before turning west on Progress, traveling 50 mph in a 25 mph zone. The suspect lost control of the vehicle and struck a fence and tree in the 2900 block of Green.

West then fled the vehicle and was chased down and tackled by officers, one of whom was allegedly bitten by West during the arrest. West was taken into custody and arraigned Tuesday in 25th District Court on charges of auto theft, fleeing and eluding and felonious assault on a police officer. West was given a $50,000 cash bond and remained in custody as of press time awaiting a preliminary examination on Jan. 31 before Judge David Bajorek.

The Allen Park man, who was driving a 1991 Dodge pickup truck, collided with the building after crossing the center median on southbound Southfield Road into northbound traffic and striking a guard rail and the Sears Auto Center building, which sustained minor damage.

Allen Park Police, Lincoln Park Police and Lincoln Park Fire Department responded to the collision, which is believed to be cause by the driver’s unknown medical problem, according to the police report.

The man was transported to Oakwood Hospital. Drugs and alcohol are not suspected in the collision, which is still under investigation.

Photo courtesy of Leslie Lynch-Wilson

By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK — Seventy-five shoppers experienced what organizers hope will become a proud Lincoln Park tradition at the first Winter Market held last Sunday at Ikaros Hall, 1677 Fort St.

Designed as a companion to the city’s summer Farmer’s Market, vendors displayed a variety of wares including kettle corn, jewelry, syrups and — a reminder of warmer days — apples and raspberries.

The informal group that started the market, including Christopher Dardzinski and Leslie Lynch-Wilson, said they hope to add vendors and customers as the weeks continue.

The market will be open from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 22, Feb. 12 and 19, and March 4 and 18.

Dardzinski said the idea originated with the popularity of the Farmer’s Market, and similar winter markets have been launched elsewhere. The group invites vendors and customers alike, and information can be found at the Lincoln Park Farmers Market Facebook page.

Participating vendors include farmer Sam Parise, specialty food vendor DHL Herb’s, Winter’s Delight, Magnolia Manor, Kettle Corn of Michigan and jewelry designer Lori Mead.

Interested vendors can contact Dardzinski at 313-294-0579.

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)

Photo courtesy of Leslie Lynch-Wilson

Sam Parise (left) talks with customer Lea Moraltis at the Park Restaurant table at the Lincoln Park Winter Market last Sunday. The market, a companion to the city’s summer Farmer’s Market, will be open from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 22, Feb. 12 and19, and March 4 and 18 at Ikaros Hall, 1677 Fort St.

“In this day and age a city needs a city manager,” Diaz Krause said of the position, vacant since Steve Duchane resigned in September 2011. “It’s got to be the right person that can understand and carry out the goals of the mayor and council.”

Working with consultants from the Michigan Municipal League, a pool of applicants have been screened; city officials will review potential candidates tomorrow and schedule tentative interviews for Jan. 21. Ten candidates were recommended for consideration, and Diaz Krause said they hope to interview the top three.

The need for a full-time manager, a specialist in municipal policies and procedures, raised questions among council members both during and after the November election. Some, including City Council President Thomas Murphy, disagree with the need for the position, especially in an era of tight budgets and staff reductions.

Duchane made a reported $102,500 annually for the job he accepted in 2004. The new manager is expected to make at least that much, and Murphy and others believe the voters would be better served by existing staff taking on the manager’s duties.

Diaz Krause agreed with her predecessor, Frank Vaslo, and said that the challenges and opportunities facing local governments require skills and experience that existing staff may not have.

“I don’t know how a municipality runs without a city manager,” Diaz Krause said.

Diaz Krause said she hopes the new manager will be in place some time next month, and she looks forward to working with them as she has embraced her first elected office since defeating Vaslo in November.

“I love it,” Diaz Krause said. “I love interacting with the employees and having residents come in and talk to me. Honestly, I’m really excited.”

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)

Included in the agendas for December meetings of the Lincoln Park City Council was revised language in a city ordinance governing flood protection. Dennis Chegash, building and engineering director, said the changes were mandated by the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

“The ordinance has to do with FEMA,” Chegash said. “Every so often they re-introduce maps that reflect changes in flood areas.” The maps, Chegash said, required approval as official records. Lincoln Park had no adjustments other than a small area near Dix and Outer Drive, Chegash said, which was not affected by summer flooding.

The ordinance “didn’t really have any impact on what happened earlier in the year,” Chegash said. “This is mandated by FEMA. The city’s been in compliance since 1982, and we have to maintain compliance for the flood insurance program.”

Mayor Patricia Diaz Kruase said the claims were filed by residents following a round of summer floods that caused damage to more than 150 houses. Several unresolved claims remain under investigation, Diaz Krause said.

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)