Man in deputy scuffle tied to robbery

CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. (WOOD) - Authorities have determined a man in jail for scuffling with a deputy following a traffic stop recently is the fourth suspect in a robbery case from last summer.

Timothy Werkema had been interviewed and was arraigned Monday in connection with the robbery. His bond was set at $75,000.

The 30-year-old had numerous outstanding warrants and been on the run until the morning of Jan. 12.

A tip led police to a man, wanted on several outstanding warrants, at a Camp Lake-area residence near Sparta. A car chase ensued and ended with a traffic stop on Long Lake Avenue near 15 Mile Road. The suspect got out of his vehicle and was chased down by Dep. Scott Abbatoy of the Kent County Sheriff's Department. The two men got into an altercation, resulting in Dep. Abbatoy suffering a broken leg. The suspect was restrained and taken into custody.

That suspect was later identified as Werkema.

He has been living with a female friend in Montcalm County, police said. His expired driver's license has an address on McPhail Avenue NE in Cedar Springs. At the time of the robbery in Cedar Springs, police were aware of an address on Pine Island Drive NE that was his primary residence.

The robbery on Aug. 27, 2012 was not random, police said. The three victims' apartment on S. Seventh Street was sought out because one of the four suspects knew a tenant had recently sold a vehicle and had money.

The occupants of the apartment were still up around midnight when someone knocked at the door asking to use the phone, police said. As one of the tenants turned to go get a cellphone, the visitor went inside the apartment and closed the door. The suspect grabbed the tenant, placed a sharp item to his back and demanded money, police said. The suspect was given an undisclosed amount of cash, stole three cellphones and fled the apartment.

Detectives from the Kent County Sheriff's Department, and Sgt. Detective Jack Smith, Det. Jason Kelley and Sgt. Edward Good from the Cedar Springs Police Department were able to gather evidence, interview the victims and identify potential suspects. Felony warrants were then obtained through the Kent County Prosecutor's Office.  

The other three suspects were arrested in November 2012 --

• Stephen Matthews Jr., 28, from Greenville is currently in the Montcalm County Jail on local charges. A felony warrant has been added to his existing felony charges.
• Cole Kasinger, 18, from Cedar Springs has been arraigned and released from custody after posting bond.
• A 16-year-old girl from Sparta was interviewed and released to the custody of her mother. Charges will be sought for her involvement through Kent County Juvenile Court.  Investigators said she was more involved than just being a passenger in the getaway vehicle.

You can call the Cedar Springs Police Department at 616.696.1311 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345 if you know more information about this case.