Retail Fraud At The Big Rapids Meijer Store

 Big Rapids - Thirty seven year old Edward Louis Welch of Big Rapids pleaded guilty to first degree retail fraud.

 On June 2, 2008 Welch was sentenced to 4 months and 15 day's in jail, he was placed on probation for two years and given fines in the amount of $1938.14. His jail time will be held in abeyance as long as he preforms 400 hours of community service and pays fines and does not violate his probation.

 The crime Welch committed took place at the Big Rapids Meijer store. Two employee's at the Meijer store heard the alarm of a fire exit door and that's when they spied Edward Louis Welch and one of his buddy's loading over $1000.00 dollars worth of store merchandise off two push carts into a van.

 One of the store employee's yelled "The police are on the way!" Welch and his accomplice took off across the parking lot and crossed the street, they were arrested a short time later in front of Lowe's and taken to the Mecosta County Jail.

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