An Alpena man accused of making false claims against Michigan State Police troopers during the execution of a search warrant has been bound over to circuit court.

70-year-old Thomas VanDuinen was charged with three counts of false report of a felony, one count of providing a false statement to a police officer, and one count of use of a computer to commit a crime.

In February 2021, MSP executed search warrants on VanDuinen’s home and on a pole barn he was renting for his business in Alpena. Two days later, VanDuinen began filing demands for the return of his property, and then filed lawsuits against MSP.

In his demands and lawsuits VanDuinen made numerous allegations against the MSP troopers who searched his home and business accusing them of stealing money and hydrocodone pills, and forging signatures on the search warrants that were used to search his properties.

VanDuinen reported these allegations to the MSP Professional Standards Section and a criminal investigation was initiated in June 2021. The Michigan Solicitor General authorized the close of the investigation against the troopers in January 2022.

The preliminary examination for VanDuinen was held on November 21 in Alpena and an arraignment date is pending.