A former detective lieutenant with the Lincoln Township Police Department is facing multiple felony charges after being accused of falsifying salvage vehicle inspections, according to a recent announcement from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. 54-year-old Johnathan Chase of Stevensville was arraigned on October 22 by Judge Charles LaSata of the 5th District Court in St. Joseph on a slew of legal troubles, including eight counts of False Certification, two counts of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, and one count of Misconduct in Office.
"Salvage vehicle inspections are vital to protecting residents from stolen or unsafe vehicles on our roads," Nessel, who put innocent owners at risk by compromising the inspection process, stated. She also affirmed that when law enforcement betrays public trust, her office will continue to hold them accountable. In his role within the Lincoln Township Police Department, Chase was responsible for the certification of salvage vehicles, a process meant to ensure that significantly damaged or reconstructed vehicles are not only safe but also not comprised of stolen parts, per the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
It was the Michigan State Police Southwest Commercial Auto Recovery Team (SCAR) that initially brought these allegations to light, leading to a referral to the Department of Attorney General’s Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement (FORCE) Team. This specialized unit, which is the first of its kind in the nation, is tasked with investigating and prosecuting crimes involving organized retail theft and similar offenses. Formed in January 2023, FORCE is dedicated to dismantling criminal organizations that pilfer products to resell at a profit.
The next court appearance for Chase is scheduled for October 31. Meanwhile, the FORCE Team, established to partner with retailers like Sam’s Club/Walmart, Meijer, and Amazon, operates in collaboration with local law enforcement to combat sophisticated retail crime. Part of its notable work includes involvement with federal agencies such as the FBI's Detroit Fraud and Financial Crimes Task Force and the Postal Inspection Service.
