Former Wayne Councilman Accused Of Reporting False Felony: Worthy

WAYNE COUNTY, MI — A former member of the Wayne City Council is one of two people accused of planting a starter pistol and fake drugs in a city employee's vehicle, according to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office.

The former councilman, 51-year-old Christopher James Sanders, of Wayne, Jimmie Lee Chandler, 28, of Van Buren Township, were both arraigned Monday on one count of falsely reporting a felony, conspiracy to commit a false report of a felony and attempted false report of a felony.

Prosecutors said that Sanders paid Chandler in October 2017 to break into the vehicle of a female Wayne employee, where he planted a starter pistol and fake drugs. Prosecutors also said that after watching the woman leave her office parking lot, Chandler placed a 911 call to authorities, reporting a false road rage incident while identifying her vehicle.

The employee was never stopped by the police, prosecutors said. When she discovered the pistol and fake drugs in her glovebox, she reported the findings to the City of Wayne Police Department, prosecutors said.

An investigation by the Michigan State Police led to the arrest of Sanders and Chandler, according to prosecutors.

Sanders is scheduled to appear in court again Oct. 2 for a probable cause hearing. He was given a $10,000 personal bail.

Chandler also has a probable cause hearing scheduled for Oct. 2. He was given a $1,000 personal bail.