Sweep of child-support delinquent parents nets 25 arrests

Twenty-five people were arrested last week during a five-day “sweep” of child-support delinquents to get them to pay, according to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau, with support from the county Friend of the Court, conducted the surprise sweep April 8 to 12 that targeted 146 parents who were behind in making payment to the other parent of their child or children, officials said in a news release. The arrests resolved 60 warrants for people who owed a total of $1.27 million, officials said.

Thomas Blohm, the director of the Friend of the Court, said his office appreciates the efforts of the Sheriff’s Office.

“While we prefer individuals with outstanding civil warrants come to the Friend of the Court to resolve them without arrest, if an individual chooses to not come to us, the Sheriff’s Department will go to them,” Blohm said in the release.

“The enforcement of child support is a serious issue in Macomb County,” Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said. “The goal of these sweeps is simple — make life better for children by getting them the money they need to grow up healthy and happy.”

The Sheriff’s Office, with the FOC’s backing, has conducted many such sweeps over many years.

The targets of these sweeps are parents who were either not complying with established child support payments or had not appeared at mandatory court hearings for the purpose of establishing child support, officials said.

County Prosecutor Peter Lucido also has increased efforts to go after child-support scofflaws.