ALPENA, MI – A Michigan man is facing felony charges after he allegedly fabricated false claims of misconduct against Michigan State Police troopers who conducted searches of his home and business, officials said.
Thomas VanDuinen, 70, of Alpena, has been bound over to circuit court, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced. He is charged with three counts of false report of a felony, a four-year felony; one count of providing a false statement to a police officer, a two-year high misdemeanor, and; one count of use of a computer to commit a crime, a seven-year felony.
In February 2021, MSP troopers executed search warrants on the defendant’s home and on a pole barn he was renting for his business in Alpena. Two days after the searches, VanDuinen began filing demands for the return of his property. He then filed lawsuits against MSP.
In his demands and lawsuits, VanDuinen allegedly made numerous false allegations against the troopers who searched his home and business accusing them of stealing money and hydrocodone pills, and forging signatures on the search warrants.
VanDuinen reported these allegations to the MSP Professional Standards Section. A criminal investigation against the troopers was initiated in June 2021. The Michigan Solicitor General authorized the closing of the investigation in January.
“Law enforcement officers who uphold their duty to serve and protect deserve to be vigorously defended against false accusations,” Nessel said in a statement. “I take seriously accusations of misconduct and am committed to thoroughly investigating such claims to ensure the public trust. In this case, Michigan State Police were falsely accused, and the offender will be held accountable.”
Earlier this month, VanDuinen’s preliminary examination was held at Alpena’s 88th District Court before Judge Alan Curtis. After hearing from six witnesses, Judge Curtis found there was enough evidence to proceed to trial and he bound the defendant over to 26th District Court on all five charges. The defendant has not yet been arraigned in circuit court.
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