[MSN] Suspect caught after thefts at art museum. An alarm at the Muskegon Museum of Art was tripped Tuesday night by a man who may have hidden inside when the museum closed, according to Muskegon police.

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Suspect caught after thefts at art museum 
Friday, August 03, 2007
By Lisa Medendorpand Heather L. VanDyke
hvandyke at muskegonchronicle.com 

An alarm at the Muskegon Museum of Art was tripped Tuesday night by a man
who may have hidden inside when the museum closed, according to Muskegon
police. 

A suspect, who has a history of theft, was captured by police a few blocks
from the museum after a foot chase. One officer was injured during the
arrest. 

Detective Sgt. Monica Shirey said the suspect "had a quantity of rings from
the gift shop in his possession and a small amount of money." 

The police report indicated the suspect took $700 worth of jewelry and $18
from a donation box. 

Keith Johnshail Grisham, 39, of 3209 Fifth, was arraigned Wednesday before
60th District Judge Andrew Wierengo III. 

He is charged with larceny in a building and resisting and obstructing
police causing injury, both four-year felonies. 

However, because Grisham has three prior felony convictions, he could spend
additional time in prison as a habitual offender if convicted. One of the
prior convictions is for breaking and entering. 

Bail was set at $15,000 cash or surety and preliminary examination for Aug.
15. 

Judith Hayner, museum director, said she was "grateful" the suspect was
caught. 

"Our security system worked very efficiently and the police were
phenomenal," Hayner said. "I'm very grateful. It was a good test of the
system and everything passed." 

The alarm at the museum, 296 W. Webster, came in at 10:22 p.m. 

When officers arrived, they checked doors and windows for signs of forced
entry, Shirey said. She said they found no sign of a break-in. 

"We're looking at how he got in," Shirey said. "It's possible he may have
been hiding inside once the museum was closed." 

During a search of the outside of the building, officers saw a man walking
between the museum and Hackley Library. He began to cross Webster Avenue to
the south. 

At that point, the suspect realized police were following him and he began
to run. He was chased down in a parking lot near Monroe Avenue and Third
Street. 

Officer Timothy Denger caught up to the suspect and they both went to the
ground, Shirey said. A second officer in a cruiser had pulled up, and the
first officer struck his head on the cruiser during the scuffle. 

Shirey said the suspect tried to get back up and was handcuffed by Officer
Thomas Parker after a "slight struggle." 

Denger sought medical treatment for a minor head injury. 

The suspect was searched and 35 rings, with price tags, were found among
other items in his pockets, Shirey said. 

http://www.mlive.com/