ALPENA TWP. (WWJ) -- A Northern Michigan man is facing multiple felony charges in the alleged theft of a high-end off-road vehicle.
The investigation began back in September, when the Michigan State Police Alpena Post got a call about a 2018 Polaris RZR RS1 — a utility task vehicle, or UTV — which had been stolen from Bloom Road in Alpena Township.
After troopers collected evidence, including footprints at the scene, investigators contacted True North Radio Network, which shared a photo of the stolen vehicle on social media.
A short time later, MSP got an anonymous tip that 51- year-old Christopher James Smolinski of Alpena had been seen driving the stolen Polaris.
When troopers went to Smolinski's home to check it out, they found him in the garage with the stolen ATV.
It looked quite a bit different, however, as police said Smolinski had recently paint the vehicle.
A report was turned over to the Alpena County Prosecutor’s Office, an arrest warrant was authorized on Dec. 10, and Smolinski was arrested the next day.
He was arraigned in the 88th District Court on Tuesday on one count of Unlawful Driving Away Motor Vehicle, one count of Malicious Destruction of Personal Property $20,000 or More, one count of Receiving Concealing Stolen Vehicle, and one count of Concealing or Misrepresenting Motor Vehicle Identity with Intent to Mislead.
Bond for Smolinski was set at $3,500, 10%, and his next court appearance was scheduled for Dec. 19.