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Call to action from police after rash of Muskegon Heights murders

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MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. -- Witnesses are key in any investigation and Michigan State Police say lately those who hold useful information in the recent murders in Muskegon Heights aren’t speaking up.

Lately there has been a rash of violence in Muskegon County: seven murders, six of those in Muskegon Heights since April.

A task force made up of several agencies is working to find answers in the cases that remain unsolved.

Michigan State Police F/Lt. Chris McIntire says in a part of their effort to combat the violence they have assigned routine patrols in Muskegon Heights and parts of Muskegon.

“There seems to be no pattern to what we're seeing out there. It's troublesome for us, how do we stop this violent crime when there isn’t a true pattern to what we're seeing?  It's difficult.”

McIntire says the troubling thing right now is that they're seeing a lot of people that have information that just aren't coming forward.

“We’ve found on more than one occasion, good people with no fear of retaliation, no fear of being labeled a snitch just aren’t giving information because they don’t think their information is going to help.”

People thinking someone else already has said something or the details they know just aren’t worth it, when it reality it can be the piece to the puzzle they are looking for.

"Let us decide what is big and what is small, we'll do that. Most times the information you have, we can use it somewhere."

McIntire says community involvement is crucial in trying to put an end to the violence.

“If those that are committing the crimes see that those in the community are going to report it I think it will curb some of that violence. The more community involvement we can have, it makes a bigger impact lowering the crime rate."

McIntire says not speaking up gives the perception that folks can get away with whatever they want, when it fact the message needs to be spread that it won't be tolerated.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Silent Observe at 231-72-CRIME.