A Pewamo woman, Nichole Marie Munson, 35, is charged with four felonies including Car-Jacking, Assault with intent to commit a felony, Motor vehicle, unlawful driving away and Police Officer Fleeing and Eluding fourth degree.
On March 7, 2011 at about 4:03 pm deputies from the Clinton County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of a car-jacking incident on Price road, at US 127 in Olive Township. The victim, a 39 year old St Johns woman, told deputies that she left her job on the campus of Michigan State University and was on her way home to St. Johns when she noticed the dash board indicator was showing that her trunk was open.
She said that she stopped the car and tried to open and close the trunk but was unable to do either. Then she went into the trunk by pulling down a back seat. Here she was confronted by someone hiding inside the trunk dressed in all back, wearing latex gloves, large sunglasses and other things in an attempt to hide her face and hair features. The victim also saw a Stun Gun beside the subject.
The St. Johns woman ran from her car and was assisted by two people who had stopped to check on her. Both of these people also saw the suspect inside the car.
The suspect left the trunk and drove off in the victim’s car. A short time later sheriff’s deputies spotted the car, and a short pursuit ensued. Deputies lost sight of the car but located it abandoned in a driveway a few miles from the original scene. A Michigan State University Police K-9 unit assisted at the scene and lost the track after a lengthy trek through a wooded area. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office made the arrest on March 8, 2011.
According to Clinton County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Fritz Sandberg, Munson’s ex-husband is the victim’s current boyfriend.
Munson was arraigned in 651h District Court St Johns on March 9 and is being held without bond. A preliminary hearing to determines if she will stand trial is set for March 17.