Captain Frank Surmaczewicz
Criminal Investigation Division
Port Orange Police Department
(386) 506-5899
Case# 09-009211    

                                PORT ORANGE MEN CHARGED WITH IDENTITY THEFT

Michael Reese, Michael Reese’s 14 year old son and Michael Cross resided together at 362 Bent Oak Drive in Port Orange. On January 13, 2009 Michael Cross died of natural causes while inside the residence.

On September 21, 2009 at approximately 9:30 am Michael Reese asked a friend named Arthur Jansen to drive him to the Port Orange City Hall to pay his water bill. Upon arriving in the parking lot Michael Reese informed Arthur Jansen he was going to unlawfully attempt to have his water bill transferred to his deceased roommate’s name, Michael Cross.

Michael Reese entered the City of Port Orange water department around 10:20 am and approached a utilities employee. Michael Reese requested to have his water service account changed into Michael Cross name as he was the person actually responsible for the bill. There was a current outstanding unpaid balance of  $87.74 for the 362 Bent Oak Drive location. 

Michael Reese then produced a Florida drivers license which had been issued to Michael Cross on January 12, 2005. The utilities employee explained to Michael Reese that Michael Cross would have to be present to switch the account. The utilities employee began assisting other customers. Minutes later Arthur Jansen walked into the water department and stood next to Michael Reese. The utilities employee made photocopies of the drivers licenses and handed Michael Reese his and she handed the Michael Cross drivers license to Arthur Jansen who placed it in his pants pocket. The water account transfer was then completed. 

On October 3, 2009 the utilities employee was reading the newspaper when she observed a photo of Michael Reese, his deceased son, and Michael Cross. The news article mentioned that Michael Cross had died in January of 2009. The utilities employee immediately realized that Michael Reese knowingly had the water account fraudulently switched to a deceased person’s name so as to avoid responsibility for the water bill. This fraudulent act would not have been possible without the direct involvement of Arthur Jansen posing as Michael Cross.  

On October 5, 2009 the aforementioned facts were reported to the Port Orange Police Department at which time an investigation was initiated. Based on the totality of the evidence obtained it was apparent that both Michael Reese and Arthur Jansen acted in concert while fraudulently utilizing the personal identification of a deceased person. 

On October 6, 2009 at 10:00 am Michael Reese, who was already incarcerated at the Volusia County Branch Jail on an unrelated charge, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Division. The bond amount is $ 1,500.00. 

Arthur Jacob Jansen is being sought by the Port Orange Police Department for his involvement in the above incident, criminal charges are pending. His current location is unknown. 

Anyone with pertinent information is asked to contact Det. Sgt. David Meyer at (386) 506-5882.

 

Update:

On October 6, 2009 at 6:59 pm Arthur Jacob Jansen was placed under arrest in the 300 block of Bent Oak Drive in Port Orange by Detective Steve Braddock. He was charged with fraudulently using the personal identification of a deceased person. Arthur Jacob Jansen was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail under a bond of $ 1,500.00.