Scavengers not allowed to sort through items set at the curbside during emergency declaration
August 18, 2014
Scavengers not allowed
to sort through items set at the curbside during emergency declaration
DEARBORN, Mich. – Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. on Monday prohibited any curbside scavenging of trash in Dearborn while crews are still cleaning up from the severe basement flooding that occurred Aug. 11 during the historic rainstorm.
His directive follows his emergency declaration of Aug. 13 in the wake of the basement flooding.
“For health and safety reasons, we can’t have people looking through trash bags and searching through piles of materials that are sometimes five feet high. We really can’t tell what is in the bags, but we know that materials are damaged from the flood, most likely contaminated with sewage. It is just not safe,” Mayor O’Reilly said.
In addition, reports have come in about scavengers creating litter by sorting through materials. City ordinance already prohibits curbside scavengers from creating litter and scattering trash while looking for discarded flood damaged materials they deem of value.
Scavengers, or anyone, can be charged with a misdemeanor crime if they are littering. The maximum penalty is $500 or 93 days in jail.
Residents should call the non-emergency police number at 943-2241 or the anonymous suspicious activity hotline at 943-3030 to report littering and to let police know if they are seeing scavengers in their neighborhoods sorting through flood damaged materials.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Mary Laundroche at (313) 943-2285
Instructions:
See Email/web message
Address/Location
Dearborn Police Department
16099 Michigan Ave
Dearborn, MI 48126
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 313-943-2240
TEXT-A-TIP - Text TIP DEARBORNPD followed by your message, to 888777
Alert Details
- Severity:
- Minor - Minimal to no known threat to life or property
- Urgency:
- Expected - Responsive action SHOULD be taken soon (within next hour)
- Certainty:
- Observed - Determined to have occurred or to be ongoing
- Category:
- Law enforcement, military, homeland and local/private security
- Event:
- Police Activity