State rep. speaking out after identity stolen allegedly by Eastpointe man

EASTPOINTE — A state representative who had his identity stolen allegedly by an Eastpointe man said he was “shocked” when he found out about the theft.

“It was shocking more than anything else, how I found out,” said state Rep. Tyrone Carter. “I received a collections notice. I opened it up and I said, ‘Well, wait a minute. I’ve never had Liberty Mutual Insurance.’”

Due to his background in law enforcement — Carter retired from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office with the rank of executive lieutenant in 2008 — he started asking questions. He called the number on the notice and was told that he owed insurance payments on a 2020 Dodge Challenger.

“First of all, I’ve never owned a Dodge Challenger,” he said. “Second of all, I never had a Liberty Mutual policy.”

He was able to find the vehicle’s information, as well as the address on the policy, and filed a case with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.

The department worked with the Department of Attorney General, and on July 19, the suspect, Christopher Still, 24, of Eastpointe, was bound over to Macomb County Circuit Court.

Still is facing three counts of insurance fraud for obtaining an insurance policy using Carter’s name and date of birth, a four-year felony; three counts of identity theft for obtaining an insurance policy in Carter’s name using his date of birth, a five-year felony; and three counts of using a computer to commit a crime for using a computer to commit the identity theft and insurance fraud, the Department of Attorney General said in a press release.

A court hearing in July was the first time that Carter said he’d ever seen Still.

“I think he’s a young guy, just like guys that want something and find out that it’s more than they can afford and they take a shortcut,” Carter said.

Carter said this has been nothing more than a minor inconvenience for him, but he’s continuing to pursue it because it could happen to anyone, and people might just ignore it.

“It’s just a precautionary tale to everybody,” Carter said. “Just pay attention. No. 1, check your credit scores. And No. 2, if something comes in the mail that you have no idea what it is, don’t ignore it. Just try to follow up and figure it out, because it could go much deeper.”

Still is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 8 in Macomb County Circuit Court.

“Mr. Still is a young man; he’s in college. My client is innocent,” Carla Marable, Still’s attorney, said.