Police: Man Threatened With Baseball Bat After Selling Empty Bridge Card
HOLLY TWP. (WWJ) - Authorities say two Oakland County men were arrested after they allegedly threatened to assault another man who sold them a Bridge Card with no money loaded on it.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Firelite in Pontiac around 4:30 p.m. Thursday after receiving a call about an assault in progress involving a baseball bat.
The 24-year-old victim told police that two men forced their way inside his apartment and demanded repayment of a debt. When the victim was unable to pay, one of the suspects allegedly grabbed a baseball bat and threatened to start swinging if someone didn't give them the money.
"An occupant of the townhouse repaid the debt to get them to stop and to leave the house," according to the police report.
As deputies closed in on the residence, they received word that the suspects had left the area in a white pick-up truck. Moments later, deputies spotted the suspects' vehicle driving on Kennett Road near Baldwin Avenue and initiated a traffic stop.
According to police, a baseball bat and handgun were recovered inside the vehicle. The driver, who has a valid CPL, and his passenger were both taken into custody at that time.
Further investigation into the incident revealed that the dispute stemmed from an apparent Bridge Card fraud. According to police, the victim sold a Bridge Card to one of the suspects -- but the card was empty, with no money loaded on it.
The suspects, a 23-year-old and 33-year-old, are lodged at the Oakland County Jail, pending review by the prosecutor's office. Their names were not released.
Bridge Cards are electronic debit cards given to both welfare and food stamp recipients in Michigan. The average monthly benefit is $135 for an individual, $405 for a family of three and $675 for a five-person family, according to the Michigan League for Public Policy, an advocacy group for those in need.
