Midwest

Michigan judge's order for Walmart shoplifters to wash cars squashed by his boss

Published

1 year ago

March 21, 2025

Michigan judge's order for Walmart shoplifters to wash cars squashed by his boss

A Michigan judge sought to have Walmart shoplifters offer free car washes for their sentence, but the plan was overruled by a senior jurist.

Judge Jeffrey Clothier, who was elected to Genesee County’s 67th District Court in January, said requiring as many as 100 shoplifters caught stealing from a local Walmart to wash cars for free would serve the community and possibly discourage others from stealing from the retail giant.

Clothier said the plan for “Walmart Washes” that he came up with last month had the backing of store managers at the Walmart in Grand Blanc Township. Walmart headquarters in Arkansas supported the idea but said the car wash could not be offered on store property, so the judge believed he could just find an alternative location for the car wash, which he wanted to take place in the spring.

JUDGE ORDERS WALMART SHOPLIFTERS TO WASH CARS IN STORE PARKING LOT

A Michigan judge sought to have Walmart shoplifters offer free car washes. (Google Maps)

“I don’t think everybody that steals is a bad person. Sometimes people are just down on their luck,” Clothier told The Associated Press at the time. “But there’s going to be consequences when you break the law.”

“I think it will be humiliating to be out there washing cars if you see someone you know,” he said. “I will be there washing cars with them.”

But Chief Judge William Crawford II has now overruled Clothier, saying the junior jurist should have first asked for approval from him and other court officials.

Chief Judge William Crawford II said the junior jurist should have first asked for approval from him and other court officials. (CLAUDIO CRUZ/AFP via Getty Images)

“This is especially true where the proposed alternative punishment deviates from the usual and accepted methods,” Crawford said in a statement Friday, adding: “‘Walmart Washes’ will not be taking place as reported.”

Clothier said he was upset by Crawford’s ruling, although he still wants to come up with new and unusual forms of punishment for the shoplifters.

“I’m frustrated,” Clothier said. “I’m still going to try to come up with a creative way to solve this problem.”

POLICE ARREST 4 IN CONNECTION TO HYPERBARIC CHAMBER FIRE THAT KILLED 5-YEAR-OLD MICHIGAN BOY: REPORT

Judge Jeffrey Clothier said he was upset by Chief Judge William Crawford II’s ruling. (Getty Images)

“I had 37 new Walmart theft offenses two days ago. In the last month, it’s been well over 100,” he added.

Clothier said 20 to 30 judges across the state who heard about the car wash planned to join him and the shoplifters.

The judge said he is now ordering other types of community service in the Walmart shoplifting cases instead of car washes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Michigan

Bridge Michigan welcomes four interns for the summer of 2026 – Bridge Michigan

Published

5 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Press Room

Bridge Michigan welcomes four interns for the summer of 2026 – Bridge Michigan

Four early-career journalists have joined Bridge Michigan for the summer
The internship program is now in its eighth consecutive year
Alumni have worked at major national and regional news outlets

Four emerging reporters will spend the summer working with Bridge Michigan.

This marks the eighth year of summer internships at Bridge. Alumni have gone on to careers at outlets like The New York Times, USA TODAY, MLive, the Petoskey News-Review and WKAR, as well as paths including Harvard Law School and a Fulbright scholarship. One former intern, Asha Lewis, now serves as Bridge’s full-time digital marketing associate.

“At Bridge, we’re dedicated to helping make Michigan a better state and part of that mission is growing the next generation of great journalists,” said Joel Kurth, Bridge Michigan executive editor for impact. “We’re excited to welcome them to our newsroom.”

Isabella Figueroa Nogueira is a junior studying journalism and economics at Michigan State University. During the school year, she is a writer for Great Lakes Echo, which covers stories about the environment and sustainability.

She is passionate about using journalism to explore the connection between people, policy and the natural world. Outside of writing, she loves to travel, watch movies, spend time with friends and walk her dogs, Oso and Polo.

Figueroa Nogueira will be reporting on Michigan’s environment through Aug. 21.

Nate Miller is from Berrien Springs, Michigan. He will be a senior at the University of Michigan, where he studies English.

Miller will be a general assignment reporter for Bridge through June 19.

Blace Carpenter is a rising senior at Central Michigan University, studying journalism with a minor in multimedia design. Since starting his career in the news industry in 2022, Carpenter has worked for publications such as the Grand Haven Tribune, Alpena News and Greenville Daily News.

Carpenter has also had some work published in statewide and national publications. For the past year, he has served as the managing editor of CMU’s student publication, Central Michigan Life.

Carpenter will report on northern and rural Michigan for Bridge through Aug. 14.

Ella Miller is Bridge Michigan’s photojournalism intern. A metro Detroit native and recent graduate of Central Michigan University, she studied photojournalism and multimedia design.

She was a staff photographer and photo editor at Central Michigan Life during her time in college, where she discovered her love for visual storytelling and community-centered journalism.

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Minnesota

Several vehicles damages by large rocks, oil thrown off I-35 bridge near Rush City, sheriff says

Published

17 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Press Room

Several vehicles damages by large rocks, oil thrown off I-35 bridge near Rush City, sheriff says

Law enforcement in an east-central Minnesota community is asking for the public’s help to find those responsible for throwing large rocks and vehicle oil off an Interstate 35 overpass.

The Chisago County Sheriff’s Office said there have been multiple reports in the past week of vehicles being struck by objects dropped from the bridge by 530th Street near Rush City, about 60 miles northeast of the Twin Cities metro area.

Law enforcement search the area near Interstate 35 and 530th Street near Rush City, Minnesota, on May 3, 2026.

MnDOT

On Sunday night just after 10 p.m., authorities say someone “threw numerous large rocks and a significant amount of oil onto passing vehicles and the roadway itself,” resulting in “multiple vehicles being damaged.”

The sheriff’s office says the Minnesota State Patrol is assisting in the investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call 651-257-4100.

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Missouri

Lane of I-70 near St. Charles Road closes for emergency repairs

Published

29 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Press Room

Lane of I-70 near St. Charles Road closes for emergency repairs

One lane of a portion of eastbound Interstate 70 in Columbia will close overnight for emergency pavement repairs, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The closure will begin at 3 p.m. on Monday for the right lane at St. Charles Road, near mile marker 131, and will be reopened Tuesday morning when repairs are complete, according to the news release.

The area is the site of ongoing construction as part of MoDOT’s Improve I-70 Program. Construction crews tore down the St. Charles Road bridge over I-70 last month so a new bridge that’s wide enough to accommodate three lanes of travel each way underneath can be constructed.

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