A Brownstown Township, Michigan man who police said was exhibiting “odd behavior” in four Downriver communities — including allegedly breaking out the windows and spray-painting his own house with vulgarities — has been arrested and charged in two of the cities.
Michael Todd Keffer, 54, has been charged with two counts of stalking in connection with an incident that occurred Tuesday at Johnson Early Childhood Center in the Taylor School District.
In that most recent incident, Taylor police Lt. Frank Canning said Keffer came to the school knocking on numerous doors in an attempt to enter the building.
He said Keffer was there to pick up a 4-year-old boy, but did not have the authorization to do so.
According to Canning, Keffer used to babysit the boy, but the parents terminated his services recently when questions about his behavior arose.
“He started harassing the wife out of the clear blue,” Canning said. “He was banging on all the doors trying to get the kid and calling the mother of the child.”
Canning said he was trying to pick up the child and told the boy’s mother they could “run off and be together.”
According to Keffer, the alarmed mother contacted the school and the child’s father, who raced to the childhood center.
Police also were notified and the school initiated its lockdown procedure.
Upon their arrival, Canning said police found Keffer sitting inside his vehicle.
He was arrested without incident.
This is just the latest in a string of incidents involving Keffer that have raised concerns for law enforcement officers in Brownstown Township, Flat Rock and Gibraltar, as well.
Township Police Chief Jeff Watson said Keffer drew their attention when he allegedly spray-painted his house with random images and words, including foul language and a reference to drugs.
The house is located in the 17000 block of Princess, near Crawford.
Watson said his house, vehicle and shed are covered in graffiti.
“Neighbors said they saw him doing it,” Watson said. “I’m not sure why. It doesn’t make sense. The complaints started on Dec. 1.”
In big, bold, blue spray paint, the house has the names Satan and Tom Hanks sprayed on it, along with a smiley face, the numbers 666, the name of an attorney and the phrase, “Let’s play.”
Watson said the windows at the house were broken out, as well.
“It’s very odd behavior,” Watson said. “We have been monitoring the situation very closely and we have contacted some family members. I believe he did the damage all in one night.”
Township police had been assessing the situation, but said the difficult aspect of it was that he technically had not broken the law as he owned the house and property.
A watchful eye was kept on a school bus stop that is near his house as a precaution.
One neighbor reported seeing Keffer yelling outside his house.
Watson said no one appeared to be around and neighbors said he seemed to be talking to himself.
“He was yelling some nonsense,” Watson said.
Prior to Keffer being arrested for the incident in Taylor, Watson assured the community that the department was on top of the situation and a plan was being put in place to address concerns.
He said he could not share the details of the plan.
Since the windows were busted, police believe the condition of the house might have been the reason Keffer temporarily moved out and checked in at the Baymont Inn in Flat Rock.
Flat Rock Police Chief Jerry Page said Keffer got into a verbal altercation with a manager at the inn at about 8:30 a.m. Dec. 4 over his dog.
According to Page, Keffer was allowing the dog to run the halls without being leashed.
The manager asked him to put the dog on a leash.
“He took offense to that,” Page said. “It started out as verbal and turned physical. He allegedly pushed her.”
Keffer was arrested and arraigned in 33rd District Court on Dec. 5 on a simple assault charge, a misdemeanor.
He was released on a personal bond.
Gibraltar Police Chief Rick Tanguay said Thursday that he just recently became aware of the situation involving Keffer, but has no idea why the man has an issue with his department.
According to Tanguay, Keffer recently left him a couple of perplexing voicemail messages.
The messages prompted him to inquire within the department about any interaction any of his officers might have had with Keffer, but no one in the department knew him or had any contact with him.
Through his research on Keffer, Tanguay discovered that he used to reside in Gibraltar on Neeley Street.
In 2020, his house caught fire and burned down.
“We have had zero communication with him,” Tanguay said. “His messages seemed confused.”
It appears Keffer tried to lodge a complaint against Flat Rock police the day after the incident at the inn, but went to the Gibraltar Police Department to do it.
Tanguay said he explained that his department was not the appropriate place to make a complaint and pointed him in the direction of Flat Rock police and Michigan State Police.
Keffer is now in the Wayne County Jail pending the outcome of the cases against him.
At last check, his Brownstown home was still fully spray-painted.
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