Crime Stoppers to hold fundraiser Monday

Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan is holding a fundraiser from 8-10 p.m. Monday at Harpers Restaurant & Brewpub, 131 Albert Ave.

Crime Stoppers is a nonprofit organization that raises award money for people who give anonymous tips that lead to the capture of criminals. The organization is volunteer-run and is paid for by donations said Crime Stoppers President Joel Maatman.

Maatman said the fundraiser will feature a band, raffle prizes and guest speakers, including Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wrigglesworth.

Since its inception in 1989, the group hasn’t had difficulty raising funds because of large donations. However, Maatman said with the struggling economy, the group is looking at more creative ways to keep the organization running.

“For 20 years we haven’t had (financial) problems, but with less donations and high payouts because there is more crime, it’s inevitable,” Maatman said.

Communication junior Katie Hans, who volunteered to plan the event for the organization, said she has been planning the fundraiser since September. She said prizes range from free food vouchers and money from the Student Book Store, 421 E. Grand River Ave., to a signed poster of the MSU men’s basketball team.

She said she expects about 100 people to attend.

MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said the raffle prizes were a result of the many sponsors Crime Stoppers has.

Maatman said Crime Stoppers is an important part of the community because it helps police capture criminals must faster than they would without anonymous tips. Maatman said once when he was working in Holt, he got a call about a murder at a gas station. Within days, the murderer was identified by an anonymous caller to Crime Stoppers.

“(The callers) were never identified, I don’t even know who they are,” Maatman said. “But they are the ones who solved the crime.”