Oceana charges vacuum salespeople with trespassing

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

Burton

HART — Two Grand Rapids residents have been charged with criminal trespassing in connection with recent complaints of aggressive vacuum salespeople in the area.

Darnell Marquis Burton and Brenda Spicuzza have been arraigned on charges of criminal trespassing in 78th District Court, said Oceana County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Erin Fisher.

Authorities investigated similar complaints of aggressive vacuum salespeople in the Mason County area last March.

Burton and Spicuzza are allegedly “the Kirby vacuum salespeople that have been barging into homes and using high pressure sales tactics on residents of Oceana County,” Fisher said. “I have charged each of them with criminal trespassing. Criminal trespass under MCL 750.552 states that remaining on property after being told by the owner or agent of the owner to leave said property, without having their own legal right to be on the property, is trespassing. It is a

Spicuzza

misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $250 and up to 30 days in jail.”

There are more salespeople allegedly committing similar crimes, the prosecutor said. “These individuals are reportedly still in the area,” Fisher said. “Residents should know who is at the door before even opening the door, as these individuals will barge in and refuse to leave, sometimes for over three hours. I would like to keep awareness of this situation in the area going in order to keep residents of our community safe and discourage these salesmen from continuing these intrusive practices in Oceana County.

“I will not hesitate to charge any others who fit the elements of the crime by engaging in similar behavior,” the prosecutor added.