The Cedar Springs Police joined other area police agencies in assisting the Kent County Sheriff Department during a break-in at the Michigan Natural Storage in Alpine Township last week.
According to the KCSD, they responded to a business alarm at the facility, at 12:47 a.m., located at 5899 Comstock Park Drive NW. A suspicious vehicle was found at the facility, and officers set up a perimeter around the business, utilizing officers from numerous agencies, while a Grand Rapids K9 officer conducted a search.
The suspect, identified as Allen Monroe Grays, 40, of Grand Rapids, refused to give  himself up and was seen trying to exit at different points around the facility. A team was assembled to enter the building and locate the suspect. After an extensive interior search, Gray was found hiding on an upper storage shelf behind numerous boxes, and taken into custody.
Grays confessed to this break-in and prior break-ins at the facility. He was stealing boxes full of packaged meat. When police caught him, he had thousands of dollars worth of product loaded and ready to take from the building. He admitted selling product from prior break-ins on the street for cash, and said he also used it to feed his family. Grays said he was having a hard time making ends meet and that he did have the intention of providing for his family with this crime.
He was arraigned on January 12 on one count of Breaking and Entering with attempt to steal, and one count of being a habitual offender, 4th offense. Bail was set at $10,000 cash or surety.
Besides Cedar Springs Police, the Kent County Sheriff Department was assisted by Walker PD, Rockford PD, Sparta PD and the Grand Rapids PD.