City Considers HD Cameras, Increased Patrols on Penniman

The City of Plymouth is looking to address safety and security along Penniman Avenue after two apparently alcohol-related incidents between Oct. 5-7.

In one incident, a fight earlier this month in the vacant lot between the downtown post office and the Plymouth Coffee Bean Company left three injured and one hospitalized, Director of Public Safety Al Cox said Monday during a Liquor License Review Committee meeting. In another incident, a manager from the Rock Bar & Grill followed two men accused of dining and dashing and reported being pushed to the ground and beaten by the the men, Cox said.

Cox said police are seeking warrants for both the dine-and-dash incident and for assault and battery charges.

Cox said the suspects in the dine-and-dash incident appeared intoxicated, while little information was provided about the subjects involved in the fight. 

Mayor Dan Dwyer told Cox the city would be willing to step up and offer whatever is needed to deter similar incidents in the future.

Cox said he would like to have high-definition cameras downtown that can pick up clear footage in low-light conditions. 

"We can identify people on camera and use it in court," Cox said.

Cox said the bars along Penniman Avenue tend to be busiest between Thursday and Saturday and are expected to be particularly busy during Detroit Tigers playoff games. Cox said the department is stepping up patrols in the area during these times, including having a car parked on Penniman.

Additionally, Cox said, police have routinely walked through local bars each week since March to ensure compliance with each business' liquor license. 

No action was taken during the meeting, which preceded Monday's Plymouth City Commission meeting.