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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

Purloined polka case emerges in Detroit

WARREN, Mich. (AP) — Roll out the felony?

A cable TV producer in suburban Detroit has been charged with using publicly owned equipment to make polka DVDs and sell them to an undercover officer.

Police say Fred DeChausse (de-CHAWSS-ay) was caught selling 11 pirated DVDs of the show "Polka Party" for $150. He's the producer of show on Warren's public cable channel.

Defense lawyer Leon Weiss called the case is "unfortunate and ridiculous" and said DeChausse is innocent.

A court hearing Monday was postponed.

Felony and misdemeanor charges were filed earlier this month against the 71-year-old DeChausse. He's been suspended without pay.

Warren police say the investigation isn't over.



Public safety news from the Inland Northwest and beyond.