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Sex, Drugs, and Secrets; Uniformed Officer Allegedly Traded Drugs for Sex

Posted at 6:38 PM, Jan 17, 2014
and last updated 2014-01-17 19:02:36-05

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. — The allegations against Michael Strong involve ecstasy, marijuana and cocaine. Those are drugs he allegedly wanted to exchange for sex.

Strong is a reserve police officer for Prairieville Township.

Investigators said other officers learned about his alleged actions and set up a sting to catch him in the act earlier this week. Strong apparently used an application on his phone called “grindr” to meet potential sexual partners.

Investigators said they caught Strong after setting up a fake profile on the site. That’s when Strong contacted them.  Investigators said a meeting was setup at a Kalamazoo County hotel to trade the drugs for sex.

When Strong showed up for the meeting, police said he was in full-uniform. During his video arraignment on Wednesday, Strong appeared to become choked up when the judge told him he had to give up his gun and badge within 24 hours.

In regards to a bond, Strong told the judge, “I’m local. I have ties to the community, so I intend to show up [to his next court appearance] no matter what.”

The Sting

According to investigators, the bust took place at the Holiday Inn off of US 131 in Oshtemo Township. Strong allegedly had the drug called molly, or ecstasy, as well as the prescription drug adderall. That’s an amphetamine used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD).

Strong was said to be in full uniform, was carrying two handguns, a taser, and a dispatch radio. Investigators bugged the room with cameras and microphones to catch Strong in the act.

Strong is due back in court on January 28th for his next hearing. If convicted, he faces seven years in prison or a 10-thousand dollar fine for the drug charges. Carrying a gun during the act of a felony is another 2 years in prison.