Woman attacks Jewish agency via phone calls

A 29-year-old woman from Hastings, Michigan was charged on Thursday, June 20, with ethnic intimidation after allegedly phoning Hebrew Free Loan, 6735 Telegraph Road, and threatening several employees earlier this year.

Bloomfield Township police on January 3, responded to the organization after receiving a complaint that several employees had received disturbing and threatening phone calls from an unknown female. Officers spoke with the manager who said she received a call from a man inquiring about a loan. When she told the man he didn't qualify for a loan from the organization, he said it "wasn't fair," and hung up, police said.

Shortly after the call, several employees received phone calls from an unknown female who employees said used derogatory language that described their race and ethnicity. Police said the caller identification on the phones showed the name of the caller, who was identified as April Marie Bennett, 29, of Hastings.

Police said Bennett told the manager during one of the calls that she was going to come to Hebrew Free Loan and kill her. At that time, the manager hung up and called police. Police said they determined Bennett was the sole person responsible for the threats.

Police in Hastings arrested Bennett on Wednesday, June 19. She was arraigned on Thursday, June 20, in 48th District Court on two felony counts of ethnic intimidation and four misdemeanor counts of malicious use of a telecommunication service. She was given a bond of $50,000. She is scheduled to appear on Tuesday, July 2, before Judge Kimberly Small in 48th District Court.