A botched attempt to steal liquor from the Meijer supermarket in South Haven on Friday night has landed three South Haven area men in jail on a variety of charges including retail fraud and drug and gun charges as well.
The incident was launched when South Haven Police were alerted to the attempted liquor heist at Meijer Friday evening. Officers successfully confronted the men in the parking lot where two of the men were taken into custody on retail fraud charges. The third man was found waiting in the getaway vehicle outside the store on Phoenix Avenue.
During the investigation, South Haven Police located a substantial amount of crack cocaine, marijuana and a large quantity of currency "consistent with drug sales," according to detectives working the case. Upon discovery of those items, police obtained a search warrant to search another vehicle and a hotel room associated with the three men.
Deputy Police Chief Natalie Thompson reports that once inside the vehicle, detectives scored another hit with discovery of additional quantities of marijuana and a stolen handgun. Inside the hotel room, yet another unregistered handgun was recovered, and all three men were arrested. According to South Haven Police, all three have extensive criminal histories including prior drug and weapons charges.
All three were lodged in the Van Buren County Jail on charges of organized retail fraud, possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, felon in possession of a firearm, and felony firearm charges.
The incident remains under investigation and officers are continuing to recover additional property. The South Haven Police Department will coordinate additional follow-up activity with the appropriate Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies.
Several members of the department contributed to the successful outcome of the investigation, with Officers Bell and Rumler being singled out by authorities for special recognition following their tireless effort and commitment to the safety of the entire community.
