02-06-2020 Police Report and Fire Reports

Police Report

By Annette Christie Criminal Sexual Conduct case delayed The court case for a former driver’s instructor charged with criminal sexual conduct has been delayed. Peter Charles Fleck, 56, a former driver’s education instructor for a local business, has been charged with five counts of criminal sexual conduct, 3rd degree. Police records show that Fleck began to instruct a 16-year-old female student in October of 2018. Incidents occurred from October to December of 2018 and in various locations throughout Berrien County. Berrien County Trial Court Judge Arthur Cotter adjourned the case so that Fleck’s attorney, Tat Parish, can obtain needed information from the Prosecutor’s Office. Published reports state that Judge Cotter ordered the Prosecutor’s Office to turn over a copy of a recording of the alleged victim’s statements to police. Reports also state that he ordered cell phone records from the defendant and alleged victim’s cell phones to be downloaded by a forensic expert in the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office and that it should be provided to both lawyers. The new date for the preliminary hearing is February 11. Police records indicate that Fleck had sexual relations with the 16-year-old victim while he was in the position of authority over her. Due to the position of authority that Peter Fleck had at the time of the incidents, he was charged with 3rd degree Criminal Sexual Conduct by force or coercion. Fleck was employed with Mr. G’s Driving School whose home base is in Three Oaks. They provided driving classes and instruction in the school districts of River Valley, Lakeshore, Bridgman, and Coloma according to their website. The Coloma School District instructed Mr. G’s that Fleck was no longer allowed on school property at the time that they were made aware of the allegations. He was immediately fired when the accusations were made public.

LARA Director and State Fire Marshal urge home heating safety (Press Release) LARA Director Orlene Hawks and State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer urge fire safety for all Michiganders, especially the elderly who are most at risk when it comes to fire. “To protect our most vulnerable residents, the State Fire Marshal and I urge all Michiganders to learn and practice basic fire safety tips,” said Hawks. “Working with your family to come up with a fire escape plan is of the utmost importance.” “It is so important to talk about fire safety with our parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors,” said Sehlmeyer. “Start with making sure they have working smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide detector. Go over fire safety practices and develop a fire escape plan with them. These are things that will increase your ability to escape and survive a fire.” Last year 73 percent of the 102 fire fatalities in Michigan involved adults over the age of 40. Of the 88 fatal fires in Michigan in 2019, the majority of the fires started in a bedroom at night. Among the top causes of fatal fires in 2019 were heating and electrical issues involving space heaters, wood stoves, fire places and overloaded electrical wiring. Having working smoke alarms may reduce the risk of dying in a fire by as much as 60 percent. “Install smoke alarms in every occupied sleeping area and on every level of the home. Many new smoke alarms have the ability to interconnect smoke alarms, so when one sounds all smoke alarms sound,” said Sehlmeyer. “Test every smoke alarm monthly and change batteries annually if your smoke alarm operates with a 9-volt battery. For the deaf or hard of hearing, consider installing smoke alarms that use a flashing light or a bed shaker device to alert them of a fire emergency.” According to the U.S. Fire Administration, adults over age 65 are more than twice as likely to die in fires. Seniors over age 85 are more than four times as likely to die in a fire. Older adults are at higher risk because their ability to respond to or escape a fire is often slower due to physical limitations. Many precautions can be taken to help increase your ability to survive or prevent a fire this winter. Home safety tips: Clear snow away from all exterior doors so you can get out fast in the event of an emergency. Make sure your home has multiple smoke alarms, including smoke alarms in each sleeping area and one on each level of your home. Interconnect smoke alarms when possible, so when one alarm sounds, all the smoke alarms sound. Make sure every smoke alarm is tested monthly and replace 9-volt batteries in smoke alarms at least once per year. Never remove or disable smoke alarms. Close bedroom doors when you sleep to separate yourself from fire, heat and toxic smoke. Make sure kids and the elderly in your home are familiar with the sound of the smoke alarm. Have a home fire escape plan that the entire family has practiced that includes having two ways out of every room as well as a meeting place outside the house. Also make sure that you can open and get out of windows and doors. Install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in your home to alert you of high levels of CO. Call 9-1-1 AFTER you exit your home, if your smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms are sounding. Never use the range or oven as a source to heat for your home. The oven not only is a potential fire hazard, it can become a source of high levels of carbon monoxide. Space Heater Safety: Space heaters need to be plugged directly into an electrical outlet. Never use an extension cord with a space heater. Make sure your space heater has an automatic shut-off switch. Never use an electric space heater in a bathroom or other areas where it may come in contact with water. Keep kids and pets three feet away from space heaters and turn them off when leaving a room or going to bed. Keep furniture, blankets and other household objects at least three feet away from a space heater.