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Posted on Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 12:52 p.m.

Ann Arbor man arrested on warrants after reporting his fish were stolen

By Lee Higgins

A man who reported Thursday that his landlord stole his pet fish and gave them to the Humane Society of Huron Valley was arrested on five bench warrants, Ann Arbor police said.

Michael Denell Hamilton, 30, is charged with failing to appear in court on five counts of driving with a suspended license, police said. He also is wanted on a contempt of court charge in Berrien County in the western part of the state.

Hamilton is being held at the Washtenaw County Jail on $4,710 bond, jail officials said.

It's unclear whether Hamilton has hired an attorney. A woman who was reportedly with him at the time of his arrest could not immediately be reached for comment today.

Hamilton told police he returned to his Dexter Avenue apartment Thursday morning after visiting relatives in Wisconsin and learned his landlord turned the fish over to the Humane Society, the police report said.

Police say Hamilton told them his apartment has been without heat and electricity for a month.

The woman who owns the apartment entered it for an annual city inspection and told police she was concerned for the welfare of the fish because of the cold weather, the report said. She said that's why she turned them over to the Humane Society.

Humane Society of Huron Valley spokeswoman Deb Kern could not immediately confirm this morning that any fish were recently turned over.

Police told Hamilton no crime had been committed by the landlord, but informed him about possible civil remedies, the report said.

Officers ran his name through the Michigan Law Enforcement Information Network, a computerized database with criminal justice information that's available around-the-clock to participating law enforcement agencies in the state.

They learned of the warrants on charges originating from agencies including the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, Ann Arbor Police Department and Michigan State Police.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at (734) 623-2527 or email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.

Comments

Sarah Smallwood

Fri, Jan 1, 2010 : 5:39 p.m.

The fish, meanwhile, have landed a book deal. "Thirty Days of Winter: Our life on Dexter," soon to be screened on Lifetime.

Joe Grimm

Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 12:27 a.m.

The scales of justice.

The Picker

Mon, Dec 14, 2009 : 7:57 p.m.

CD, Your right! I once left a Spanish textbook open in front of my tank and that night I could hear my guppies conversing to one another in Spanish. Now I always watch what I say in front of them.

cd_booth

Mon, Dec 14, 2009 : 9:08 a.m.

Good job on the part of the apartment owner. Fish are often overlooked when it comes to animal welfare. I'm surprised there were still fish living after a month of no electricity (no heater, no aerator, no running filter) and without being fed for however long this guy was out of town. They most likely resorted to cannibalism. Fish are more intelligent than people give them credit for, not that intelligence has anything to do with providing proper care for an animal that one has assumed responsibility for.

racerx

Mon, Dec 14, 2009 : 1:34 a.m.

LEIN isn't all what these posts seem to be. I was pulled over for speeding by A2 Police. I, like the above, failed to pay a ticket. It was no more than two weeks before getting the speeding ticket, I renewed by drivers license at the Secty of State. No record of an outstanding ticket was ever mentioned or brought to my attention. Arrested, momentarily jailed, due to that other outstanding ticket, the bond was the same as the amount of the ticket, so I was free to go. However, if law enforcement has the ability to ahem..."inquire" as to one's criminal status at any given time, why doesn't the Secty of State, whose sole purpose is to provide this service ensuring our roads are safe. Speeding is not as big an issue as say murder (oh, I'll wait for comments,...well if you're speeding and kill someone...spare me!), but the State should really do a better job of linking this information together. My case was a simple mishap of moving, though my drivers license had the correct information, as required by law. However, if I was not allowed to renew my drivers license at this period of having an outstanding ticket, I wouldn't have been arrested, jailed and all of the other hassles. Cut the guy some slack. Guess this is why I have my "pen" name! LOL!

John

Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 2:20 p.m.

SemperFi, Don't jump to conclusions. I doubt his suspension had anything to do with a DUI, or he would have been arrested while driving without a license, rather than just ticketed for driving suspended. A license suspension could be for something as simple as not paying a parking ticket. The laws associated with issuing warrants for low level civil infractions are out of control. If you fail to pay a $50 seat belt ticket, your license will be suspended. If you move, and miss a court date, they will issue a bench warrant. The system is out of control.

The Picker

Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 9:33 a.m.

Hee, he, he, where does it say he was driving drunk? The landlord and city need entry permission, even for the biennial housing inspection, did they have it? Maybe Big Brother is the lawbreaker this time!

billy

Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 10:32 p.m.

The guy probably didn't pay his traffic tickets. Anyone who thinks they are holier than thou better not forget to pay a traffic ticket because Michigan will come after you even if you move out of state. Michigan has driver responsibility fees for many offenses that you may be charged and arrested for FYI, even if you paid the original ticket.

LaMusica

Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 9:10 p.m.

LoL this is so random! And, the Humane Society takes in fish?!

girlhunter

Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 6:19 p.m.

The only thing I have to say is.. If your gona be stupid... you gotta be tough...

djm12652

Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 2:25 p.m.

The whole thing smells fishy to me....well, word police... how's this one?

alarictoo

Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 2:06 p.m.

Looks like they caught him hook, line, and sinker. (Sorry, just couldn't let it pass unsaid)

dading dont delete me bro

Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 2 p.m.

doh!

SemperFi

Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 1:31 p.m.

Hee he he! This guys thinks its OK to drive drunk and skip his court hearings, but is really mad because someone is concerned about the welfare of his fish. Go figure.