State Roundup

Colorado

Michigan bounty hunter facing kidnapping charge

LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) -- A bounty hunter from Michigan is facing kidnapping charges after he was accused of picking up a 29-year-old man who was wanted on a misdemeanor traffic warrant and demanding money and drugs for his release.

Chad Farquhar of Quick Bail Bonds in Jackson, Mich., was jailed on $175,000 bond after Loveland police arrested him Saturday night. He is accused of kidnapping Jason Olson, also of Michigan. Olson's hometown was not available.

The victim's family says Farquhar demanded money and drugs for Olson's return.

Farquhar is a bail enforcement agent with Quick Bail Bonds in Jackson, Mich. According to the Loveland Reporter-Herald, owner Charles Davis denies the allegations.

Mount Clemens

Man convicted in Detroit-area slaying apologizes

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) -- A 20-year-old Detroit man convicted of murder on accusations he stabbed a Warren man more than 130 times during a robbery targeting gay men has offered an apology.

The Macomb Daily reports Andrew T. Clark told 57-year-old Robert Miller Jr.'s family during a sentencing hearing in Mount Clemens that he was "truly sorry" for the November 2010 killing. Clark says he was under the influence of ecstasy and marijuana. He said he wishes he could explain his actions.

A Macomb County jury last month convicted Clark of first-degree murder. A judge on Tuesday sentenced him to the mandatory term of life in prison without parole.

Authorities say Clark also stole jewelry and other items from Miller's condo. They say Clark took Miller's Nissan Maxima and torched it.

Waterford Township

2nd suspect arrested in Mich. roller rink shooting

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- The second of three young men wanted in connection with a shooting that wounded five people at a southeast Michigan roller skating rink in December has been arrested in Georgia.

Waterford Township police said in a statement that 21-year-old Tre-Andis Jamison of Pontiac is being held in Gwinnett County after being taken into custody there Monday by the FBI. He was named earlier this year in a warrant on assault with intent to murder, conspiracy and firearm possession charges.

Police say the Dec. 23 shooting at the Rolladium Skating Center in Waterford Township involved two rival Pontiac gangs. About 290 people were inside the rink, about 25 miles northwest of Detroit.

A 17-year-old was arrested in January in the case. Investigators are still searching for 18-year-old Robert Lee German.

Bay City

Fireworks suppliers want fast decision on new law

BAY CITY, Mich. (AP) -- Companies are urging a judge to quickly consider their challenge to a new Michigan law that requires millions of dollars in liability insurance if they want to sell powerful fireworks.

Bay City federal Judge Thomas Ludington has set a hearing for June 7. But that's after Memorial Day and is close to July 4, the biggest day of the year for fireworks. Suppliers need to place their orders.

A new law allows the sale of powerful fireworks such as firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles. A coalition of fireworks distributors says the insurance requirements could make it impossible to turn a profit.

The state is defending the insurance portion of the new law, saying it will keep "fly by night" retailers from posing a safety threat.

Published: Thu, Apr 26, 2012