A member of Caro’s Planning Commission has been dismissed after an incident at a marijuana business resulted in a police report later being forwarded to the Tuscola County Prosecutor’s Office.
Al Michel, a former businessman in the Caro area, is accused of attempting to inspect Premier Provisioning, a medical marijuana store located at 1023 E. Caro Road, despite not having the authority to do so. The dispensary’s owner, Ray Murad, also reported to police that, while working with Michel years before, he was to pay Michel $5,000, but later decided Michel was not entitled to it as the deal fell through. Still, Michel continued to harass Murad for the money, culminating in Michel telling Murad on March 18 this year to pay up or lose his planning commission vote on if Premier Provisioning would be allowed to sell recreationally.
Despite Michel insisting to police that the money is owed to him and had nothing to do with the planned vote, he was barred from voting on the measure, and on April 17, was removed from his post by unanimous vote. The 76-year-old Michel had been appointed in October 2021, and may face charges of trespassing or bribery for his actions.
