LANSING, MI – A former Southwest Michigan police officer is facing multiple felony charges for allegedly falsifying salvage vehicle inspections.
Former Lincoln Township Police Department Detective Lieutenant Johnathan Chase, 54, of Stevensville, was arraigned on Oct. 22 by Judge Charles LaSata of the Fifth District Court in St. Joseph, according to a press release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
Chase has been charged with:
- Eight counts of false certification, each a one to five-year felony
- Two counts of using a computer to commit a crime, a seven-year felony
- One count of misconduct in office, a five-year felony
Salvage vehicle inspections are conducted to ensure that vehicles extensively damaged or reconstructed with parts from other sources are safe and that their components are not traced to stolen vehicles.
Officers performing these inspections must certify the origin of all parts.
Chase, who was the sole officer responsible for salvage vehicle certifications within the Lincoln Township Police Department, reportedly submitted multiple falsified salvage inspection forms to the state.
The Michigan State Police Southwest Commercial Auto Recovery Team (SCAR) investigated this matter and referred the case to the Department of Attorney General’s Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement (FORCE) Team.
“Salvage vehicle inspections are vital to protecting residents from stolen or unsafe vehicles on our roads,” Nessel said. “When law enforcement officers abuse their authority and compromise that process, they not only betray public trust but also put innocent owners at risk.
“I appreciate the Michigan State Police for bringing this matter to our attention, and we will continue to hold those who misuse their positions accountable.”
Chase will next appear Oct. 31 before the Fifth District Court.
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