Electric Co-op Offering $10,000 Reward For Information Regarding Gunshot Damage

HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative is seeking the public’s help in finding the person(s) responsible for 14 separate incidents of gunshot damage to the co-op’s transformers, regulators, and other electric system equipment over the past year. The incidents, which have taken place in Clinton, Eaton, and Ionia counties, have caused over $250,000 in damage and resulted in electric outages for HomeWorks members. The co-op is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone providing information that leads to the apprehension and conviction of the responsible party.

“Intentionally damaging electric infrastructure is a serious felony offense,” says HomeWorks CEO Chris O’Neill. “Providing safe and reliable electricity to our members is our top priority, and we take anything that disrupts our ability to do that very seriously. We are working with the Michigan State Police and local law enforcement agencies to put a stop to these repeated crimes as soon and as safely as possible.”

Anyone with information about these crimes should report it to Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan at 517-483-STOP (7867). Crime Stoppers does accept anonymous tips. The majority of the incidents have occurred in the overnight hours, so members of the public who hear gunshots overnight are asked to immediately report it via their county’s central dispatch non-emergency line.

HomeWorks is a not-for-profit electric cooperative owned and democratically run by the members who receive electric service from the utility. The cooperative is headquartered in Portland, MI, and serves approximately 23,000 members in 13 counties across rural mid-Michigan. The co-op can be reached at 800-562-8232 or www.homeworks.org.

Photo by Ray Shrewsberry at pixaby.com.