State Roundup

Grand Rapids Critics: Cops bothering gays in Kent County parks GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- Activists in the Grand Rapids area say sheriff's deputies have been unfairly targeting gay men in Kent County parks. Critics told county commissioners Tuesday that undercover officers are entrapping gay men through casual conversation or arresting them for holding hands. Attorney Miriam Aukerman of the American Civil Liberties Union says there's nothing wrong with gay men flirting in a park. Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma denies that anyone is being arrested for holding hands. He says deputies are just trying to keep parks safe for everyone. Michigan law bars someone from using a public place to invite someone to commit a "lewd or immoral act." Aukerman says that could apply to any bar on weekends. The Grand Rapids Press says county lawyers plan to offer the accused more rights. Walker With stem cells, ailing dog may learn new tricks WALKER, Mich. (AP) -- The patient hopes stem-cell therapy will relieve arthritis in his hips and knees. In this case, it's a Grand Rapids-area dog named Boris. The Grand Rapids Press says the Chow mix had the $1,500 procedure Tuesday at Kelley's Animal Clinic in Walker. Veterinarian James Kelley says it's the first time he's performed it after investing more than $10,000 in equipment and materials to process the stem cells. Stem cells and plasma were injected into the dog's hip and knee joints. Owner Paul Bultinck acknowledges that a $1,500 procedure is expensive but Boris is a beloved member of his family. He plans to have the therapy repeated next week on Boris' sister, Natasha. The veterinarian believes Boris could be pain-free in about two months. Royal Oak 2 ex-cons arraigned in home-killing of woman, 80 ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) -- Two ex-convicts broke into the home of an 80-year-old woman for whom they'd done lawn work, and one of them beat her to force her to disclose the pin number of her bank card, then bound her hands and fatally slashed her throat, a detective testified Tuesday in a suburban Detroit court. Alan Wood, 48, and Tonia Watson, 40, were arraigned Tuesday in Royal Oak District Court on first-degree murder charges in the Nov. 20 death of Nancy Dailey. They face automatic life in prison without parole if convicted as charged. Judge Terrence Brennan ordered Wood and Watson held without bond until their preliminary examinations Friday. It wasn't immediately known if Wood and Watson have lawyers. The Oakland County Sheriff's Department said it did not have a record on whether they have legal counsel. Dailey's body was discovered in her Royal Oak home on Nov. 20. Wood and Watson were arrested two days while trying to use her credit card and were jailed on parole violations until being charged Monday in Dailey's death. In court Tuesday, police Detective Carl Barretto testified that Wood and Watson did yard work for Dailey. The detective said Watson told investigators that she and Wood returned to Dailey's home because they needed money. Watson said Wood told her to knock on the front door while he went in through a side door. Wood then "punched, kicked and stomped" Dailey on the floor while demanding the pin number for her bank card, Barretto said. After Dailey gave Wood the information, he told his accomplice, "You know what I have to do," Barretto testified. Wood then tied Dailey's hands behind her back and used his knife to slit her throat and stabbed her, the detective said. Two days after the killing, Wood and Watson were arrested at a Meijer store in Wayne County's Canton Township, trying to use Dailey's credit cards, police said. The suspects were planning to leave the state that day, police said. Police said neither suspect had a car, so they used buses to commit crimes while staying at several residential motels in Royal Oak. After hearing the testimony, Judge Terrance Brennan ordered Wood and Watson held without bond until their preliminary examinations Friday. Published: Thu, Dec 15, 2011