Michael Kaminski will avoid prison for his ill-fated robbery with a cologne bottle.
In February, we reported that the former guitarist of Cop Shoot Cop, Michael Kaminski, had apparently traded in his axe for a gun-shaped cologne bottle, which he used to rob an Akron video store.
The 41-year-old earned national headlines as well as his own comic strip in Blender when he stuck up a Highland Square Video clerk with a gun-shaped Stetson cologne bottle – he even painted the “handle” black to make it look more convincing – and threatened to shoot if the guy didn’t empty out his register. Instead, Kaminski got the beating of his life from the clerk and a worker from a neighboring store. Kaminski was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon…
This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2008.
Denise, Your written words here are callous and in dispute with the legal decision and authority of Judge Cosgrove and not in adherence with the law. Your tone as a reporter is petty. I know you are friends with the video store owner and perhaps with the martial arts guy who so foolishly beat Michael “to a pulp”. It may be helpful here to state the FACTS of the case correctly and without prejudice.
Your most recent article is actually detrimental and disrespectful to the courts decision with regards to Mr. Kaminski’s sentencing. When reading your initial article pertaining to Mr. Kaminski (Feb. 28, 2008) one could easily come to the conclusion that you, as a reporter, had fallen into the unprofessional pit and succumbed to your own personal feelings due to your friendship with the video store owner. Also it must be noted how unprofessional it was for you to publish an article with regard to your own insatiable desire to bring about preconceived judgements regarding what Mr. Kaminski’s conviction and incarceration should be.
Now after the fact, your initial intent to cause detriment to Michael with regard to the verdict which could have resulted in a preconceived, unfavorable conviction of Mr. Kaminski was not successful. So much for the power of the pen and the written press. Sometimes, Denise, in the real world, justice does prevail. Shame on you for your vile tone. As a graduate of Oberlin College, I expected no less.
Denise, I read with interest an article you had written in June of 2004 pertaining to guitarist Robert Quine. The article was written with compassion and conviction for what this man had eventually succumbed to with regards to his heroin addiction.
Now, several years later, another talented guitarist has also fallen due to the addictive cycle of the drug of heroin. There are some similarites in these two men and their subsequent addictions to heroin. One may draw a parallel between these two men and their addictions, one, exhausted by his addiction, subsequently committed suicide and the other, much younger, committed a foolish crime to continue his addition into the depths of despair.
One must realize that those who love those who are struggling with addiction have great compassion for just keeping them alive. Our intent was/is not to see Michael fall victim to what heroin had done to Robert Quine. Draw the distinctions Denise, understand the addiction, no one “sympathizes” with Michael’s most recent actions, only with the conviction that we want him to get better and hopefully contribute productively to society. Be a part of the solution Denise, not adding to the fury of mocking the addiction. I found nothing humorous in your article with regards to heroin addiction.
Denise, Your comment “thanks to his addiction”? Re: Michael Kaminski’s sentencing. I am appauled by your ruthless comments. The problem with society is that there are millions of drug addicts that need HELP, not incarceration. Where do you think Mr. Kaminski has been since his sentencing? Incarcerated! It’s about time that he does get the help he needs.
You should be ashamed of yourself and maybe need to research drug addiction, especially Herion, before you pass judgement on others who suffer from the disease.
Denise, Shameful. Why all the venom? Have you not stung this individual enough? Who supports your decisions? Your anger written here comes through loud and clear. Why? What did Kaminski do to you? No one is perfect. Some who have climbed the highest they can, fall the furtherest from grace. It happens to the best of people. Also, have you ever seen the movie, A Beautiful Mind? Watch it, it may give you some insight into the mentality of an individual branded gifted as a child yet unable to mesh into society and then through ignorance of others and by the actions of his own mental illness, damages himself and his family through his self medication and/or lack thereof. There is much more to this story than you know.
Applause to C Notes, an F Minus
You are absolutely right, there is venom and has been since the start of her heartless articles on Mr. Kaminski. Is the picture posted really necessary? Please? For some reason, Denise you are out to humiliate Mr. Kaminski. I am sure if you did your research, you could find a better pic of him with Cop Shoot Cop. You must have a lot of time on your hands to write the articles you have so far. It states how you clearly feel below.
” Our story elicited impassioned responses from Kaminski’s friends and family, who claimed that he was a drug addict who needed rehab instead of punishment. We agreed, but still felt like the guy deserved a bit of time and humiliation for sticking up an innocent minimum wage worker.”
Why doesn’t Denise do an interview with Mr. Kaminski down the road…why not see for herself and his fans what really did happened? I do support the judges decision, she obviously knew what actually happened. If Mike even had a hint of aggressiveness in him she would have thrown the book at him. She did to the guy sentenced before Mike. To Denise: CHILL, man.
Who are you Denise to state that Mike was in a vicious cycle of abuse, robbery and recovery? How dare you write such slanderous remarks. Who are your sources? Please state them immediately. If you want to write an opinion page then do so, but don’t masquerade this column as a competent reporter dutifully reporting accurately for you only have an opinion about this case and unfortunately you have the platform of the pen to produce such ignorant remarks. I am highly disappointed in you, and as an Oberlin College graduate.
We all need to wait and watch and see what happens next, all hoping for the best to Mike. Hang tight Mike, take care of yourself.
Denise, In your article you callously stated “Needless to say, C-Notes found this story pretty amusing and branded Kaminski moron of the day”. What did you find amusing? That your minimum wage friend “just trying to earn a decent living” got held up by an desperate addict? I found your statements to be warped and crude.
I wonder how amusing those who got pleasure from this man’s beating will feel if they find themselves someday in a court of law.
I posted to the Denise’s first article and original blog on April 3rd that I had received a letter from Michael (my brother) to Denise that I would be happy to send to her if she was interested. Never heard from her. It is apparent that she is very much interested in writing an opinion page and NOT a true article from that of a “reporter”.
…one thing is for certain , Mike Kaminski has family and/or friends blogging on the site that love and care about him. He is a lucky man. He is fortunate they did not turn their backs on him long ago out of frustration and their own inablility to help him help himself. He is very lucky to still have them around and wanting to help him get better and be a productive individual. He likes music does he not? He can play the guitar? Can’t he, he is an artist I have heard, is he not? The point I am trying to make here is that he has lots of opportunity to expand himself through his gifts of artist talent he should embrace those gifts and then live his life.
I feel bad about the video clerk who got scared and rightfully so, but not for the other guy who beat Mike up. I agree that this man may deserves to be sued for continuing to beat Mike after he was down and after two women reportedly were begging him to stop. He still continued to beat Mike. That is where he may find himself in for a legal battle. At the very least, he owes Mike an apology and Mike owes the video store clerk an apology. They should all make a truce and get on with it. This bickering does no one any good.
For Mike, we will be watching and waiting to see how comes out of this, also, remember man that Mike can’t expect so much from himself that he loses sight of who he really is. To Mike: Don’t put your expectations up there so high that you (or anyone would) fail. One day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time. Gradually give yourself the opportunity to become whole again and live your life. Mike is a lucky man in many ways, he is definitely loved and has supporters. They rest is up to him. People have stuck their necks out for him, he should be grateful.
In fairness to Denise, I think she was writing and enacting “tough love”. You are not wrong in your writings. He needs tough love and some rehabiliation too. You should understand the family and their frustration with all of this.
Give me a break! Sure the guys a loser has a drug problem boo-hoo. He held up a store and all to feed the need.Im sick of all the half way house recovery B.S. The O-House is where i am sure he will do the 90 days. There are more drugs in there then on Akrons streets and a joke of a program…i should know i worked there.
Look the guy was in a band big deal. He was a half slacker who leaches off others got bit by the drug bug and now deals his “illness” to people doing their jobs m- wage or not.Put him up for the 5 years he did the crime do the time. He got what he deserved by the employees.To bad the system as well as some limp minded fools here feel sorry for him…not!
…are you the one who works at the video store and used to work at CBCF? Shame on you for your vile comments. Looks like you got real far with your life. Pity yourself for no one else will, you can not recover unless you learn to forgive yourself for what you have done and also learn to understand your addiction and not be angered by it or others who act as you did. Atleast we know that minimun wage job will keep you off the streets unable to afford drugs, keep watching your videos man.
I found it interesting that in the Blender comic referring to Mr. Kaminski he was featured wearing a COP SHOOT COP shirt. In reality does Denise Grollmus know that Mr. Kaminski at the time of his arrest and subsequent beating was wearing a BLACK KEYS T-Shirt? Funny that karmic wheel, huh?
Hey i do quite fine and nope i dont work at a video store and worked at O- house over 10years ago but know many who do and did…its a joke…kinda like u.
I dont need recovery have no addictions to anything (clean livin) and dont steal to feed the need like this loser. I saw the ad in Scene and read the story in the paper thats it. Im sic of people defending others with addiction who rob and steal for a fix…its a F**king crime. Maybe Mikeyslime would of used a real gun if he would of had the $ to buy one and not put it in his arm..maybe hurt someone..bad…but oh yea we forgot he’s a nice guy and needs help… he’s on drugs…BOO F**kin HOO! Lock em up…he can detox in the can. I know one thing you as well as others are addicted to on here stupidity!!!!!!!!
Hey there Red, buddy, keep playing your videos and take some anger management classes. What’s it to you if you don’t even know Mike? What’s it to you to keep checking this blog? Yeah right, you just happened upon the article in C-Notes, yup!! NOT. In reference to your last nasty 🙁 comment, perhaps someone should lock you up for your own stupidity, and how about you and that beauty of a beast martial arts guy who beat Mike up, you two locked up together. Now that would be a penalty due and good match too. :)Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL…no really i get off by finding stupid meaningless threads like this with stupid people defending low lifes like your loverboy Mikey. Although i never have been in jail i worked there (hint)So i have seen alot like this sap…and im sick of fool who stick up for them and judges who feel detox is an answer to a crime that was committed. If you did the same crime but didnt throw the ” I have an addiction rap out your a** would be in the county or bighouse toot sweet buddy.But Mikey crys “Ooooh im a junkie i need help and Akrons revolving dackdoor O-house linked to every judge for kickbacks starts its machine of crankin in the druggies and kickin them out only for them to come back for the old $$$$$$$$$!
Spare me bud your a tool. Im really not who you must think i am dont know Mikey cause i hate druggies and ya he got an a** beating he deserved could of been worse. But hey he’s doin 90 in a rehab so loverboy will be home soon…oh ya Akron hide your smack!
Red,
You claim to be a past employee of one of Akron’s fine rehabs? Well, judging by the comments you’ve made here, it’s a good thing you aren’t still employed there.
Fine rehabs….in Akron LMAO what truck did you fall off bud.Re-read my posts…the O- house is a $$ pond for those involved with a drain to Akrons junkies and roadrash trash swirking into it day after day.
Look i will explain this although i see no point. I was young and dumb years ago thought i would be a substance abuse counselor.The more i got into it i found it was a revloving door to line the pockets of those who pretent to care and house those in need and offer services.I met great people who really wanted to help who one by one were soured by the crap and crime of the system.People like Mikey were told to plea they had a drug problem to beat a jail rap and do a halfway house..again and again.I know Mike has a problem and i hope this beating, and how the media made him to look like an a** will wake him up and get him on the road to life again..really! I dont know him from Adam i do wish him well but… He broke the law so throw him in the clink not sisy rehab.Thats my beef.
Cop shoot Cop nice name for a band Btw :(…never heard of em…so i guess they suked? After rehab you guys should get Mike a cheap guitar and he could play for $ on the street…no need to steal then…P.S. do nice songs and lose the band name.
Fine rehabs was a sarcastic comment. Any of us who have been exposed to the rehabs, the legal heroin clinic (methadone) know what it is all about. Based on your comments, you sound like a very closed minded individual and I’m quite surprised by your comments of hating “druggies”, yet going into the field of being a substance abuse counselor??? Sounds like it made you a very bitter individual.
Bitter? Oh your so right.I did once have a heart for all the systems i worked in and in some way still do …but im hardened by the stupidity of it all. Look you see it on the level of helping people when its clearly not what its about around here. Here in Akron its a revolving door cash machine ..get a clue.
Like i said that was over 10 years ago i was in the field ..not no more.Since then i delt with more druggies in more ways then one and ..yes i hate them for falling to pitfalls in their lives. Addictions a Bitch but alot of addicted people dont rob stores, strip copper, steal manhole covers and all the more for scrap to feed the need.When they are caught they need to be givin punishment not a slap on the wrist for a monkey on their backs.
As i said before the O-house system is full of drugs a guy i knew just quit there said its terrible.With a lack system and Akron courts filling up that craphole more will return to repeat the process to the tune of the $$ machine.In the end only one person can help Mike and thats Mike himself..cover it up call it what you want but he needs to stand up and face it! You cant fight this for him. He has made poor choices in his life ..time to man up grow some stones and deal..and stop the smack.
I’m well aware of the revolving door cash machine as you refer to it – a clue is not what I need. Look, jail or prison time does not rehabilitate or fix the addict. What does need “fixed” is the so called rehab systems that we currently have in place. I’m not condoning what Mike did but jail does not fix the addict. Ultimately, it will be his choice. This will be his last chance.
Hey Red, Without all the sarcasm you do have several significant points. We know that the judges have an interest in the rehabilitation services at O House, however, for Mike to be sent to prison would have clearly been the wrong choice and an injustice for the conditions of the crime committed. This is a man you do not know, you do not know his background or his talents, you do not know his soul.
My God, dear man, have those who have come out so hard upon Mike have the right to cast these stones. If you volunteered or worked at O House over 10 years ago, you must realize that perhaps between then and now, things may have improved. Give the system a chance, if not, why not work with your representatives to change this system for the better. Michael has had an interesting life and his story is not yet complete, he is not a ignorant or hardened individual, quite the contrary. But he is a troubled man and he lost his way in the darkness of night time addiction. Mike needs someone with a lantern of hope to guide him to where he should be. I have no business here on this blog supporting Michael, but I feel great compassion for those who fall far and need someone to show them the way. Just think of all the others who were left to darkness, losing their way, and eventually taking their own lives. Compassion my dear man will enrich your life and perhaps save another. To be taken advantage of is another thing entirely…I know Mike will not go there again, if he did so, it was not intentional. He has a long road to haul, a path to explore, a life to live, there will be no more second chances…we will watch and wait and pray. I will pray for you too, and your heart.
I would like to know why anyone would call anyone else a “loser”. If someone is checking this blog then they are identifying some how with the contents of this blog about michael Kaminski and they either want to identify with it or distance themselves from themselves, but either way they are intrigued by the passion. Interesting.
Well my friends we went 1 for 3 here.Kzieler i see we are seing eye to eye finally so to speak. Yes jail will not reform an addict but it will get them some treatment and off the street and punishment for the crime..thats a win in my book.To bad there are drugs in jails…again another revolving door…the image is sicker the more you look at it.Mike has no more chances the ball is in his court…hope he sees the light.
Concerned:PLEASE Do you write fluffy pamplets or Halmark cards for a living LOL.
First i got payed to work in that dump. No the O-house has never improved and has been investigated several times and kickbacks im sure are going on. There are many hands in that place from all over.I told you a friend just quit there …the place is a mess.The only person Mike needs to hold his “Lantern of Hope”(nice) Is Good ol’ Mikey…yep look in the mirror Mikey step up to it and deal!
Mike was ignorant the night he walked into a video store and tried to rob it where is his compassion there? The only talent was painting the bottle to look like a real gun…please. He knew what he was doing he set out to commit a crime and use the money to feed the need…money people worked for.This was not intentional?. To say Mike will not go there again makes you look like a fool. Most addicts in recovery relapse several times before the kick it if they ever do.
Look i am sure your a nice person who wears your heart on your sleave.Today people like to walk up tear it off and smash them so dont be do led to belive this story is over…i hope your right…not so sure thou.
Luara D. Yea loser is a term for street thugs, punks or druggies who rob people doing a job trying to make a living. Just because you fall to temptation and need to feed the need doesnt give you the right to rob and make others life hell like you made yours.Loser is a perfectly good term for a person that does this.I read the article in scene and remember seeing this guy around the area since i play music too.I thought funny too bad. Then i read how many of you bleeding hearts where ripping the reporter for being to harsh on poor old Mikey. It continued to when i picked up scene again last week and saw the little blurb saying it was in C-notes which is the first time i ever came here. I came in read the BS and had to post..thats it …thats my story.BTW its over …i’m done said my piece and maybe educated a few of you not to be so trusting ,harden up and make Mikey step up to the plate.If you love him make him earn the respect and trust back he has lost from im sure so many.I freely give people a second chance but if you do the crime do the time quit crying. You know what we used to say ….. junkies love enablers!
Just so you know, “Red”, you and I do NOT see eye to eye on this matter. Good to hear you’re done blogging here. By the way, while your “educating” all of us on what we need to do with Michael, educate yourself with a dictionary when blogging. It’s a good thing the rest of the world isn’t the hard and callous person you seem to be. Very sad.
To Red, now gone,: I do not work for Hallmark Cards, very funny. I am however, employed by a government agency.
Hey ya’ll had to come back one more time…I GOT IN THIS WEEKS SCENE FOR MY COMMENTS AND WIT …….YA…….GOOD TO SEE THEY KNOW A WINNER WHEN THEY READ ONE!
Red, Where are you in Scene? Am I missing something? I did not see you there, please point out how to read what you are referring to. Thank you.
In the letters section..thats what i think its called. They took snippets of my posts here and put them all together…READ IT..LEARN IT ….LIVE IT!
Red,
This comment was posted as well….
Dope Shoot Dope
Guitarist’s drug-fueled robbery a hot topic: I am appalled by your ruthless comments. The problem with society is that there are millions of drug addicts that need help, not incarceration. Where do you think Mr. Kaminski has been since his sentencing? Incarcerated!
It’s about time that he does get the help he needs. You should be ashamed of yourself and maybe need to research drug addiction, especially heroin, before you pass judgment on others who suffer from the disease
LMAO…We all had a good laugh at that one…yes sir.News is the staffers at the O-house thought it was a hoot a real gem…dream on oh thee of all enablers…dream on!
Red, Chill out man, and please remember Michael is at the O House for help and treatment, please don’t mock the system. I am sorry you were unsuccessful there but don’t jinx the the rest of the recipients. Don’t take pleasure in someone else’s downfall. You wait and watch and see, perhaps Mike will surprise us all. Also, I doubt very seriously that any staffers at the O-House thought it was “a hoot a real gen…” Your venom makes me wonder if you are stinging from rejection of being a failure in your job. What a sad little creature you are…
Concerned, Its blow hards like you that make me giggle and come back to this worthless chat in my spare time.Help in the O-house?…oh my. Mock i dont have to the place is a mockery in itself and its all on its own a scam. Jinx?…gee i wish anyone the best but copping a plea to escape jail for a dumbass crime pisses me and alot of others including O-house workers off! Gee i see the editor of Scene even agrees Mikey got it easy…hummm. I take no aim at anyone who SEEKS treatment and recives it thru privite drug or alchol programs . Not law breaking scum buckets who use place like O-house to escape jail and lounge in jammies while getting so called treatment…wake up for God’s sake are you that stupid?
I was not a failure at the O-dump in fact i was promoted and quit that piss dump. While i have spent many years in working social service peograms i have run in to at least 20 other former O-house survivors who called that dump employment. We all sing the same tune…people clean out your ears…..listen!
You want Mikey better get him out and pay for one of those expensive treatment places you see on TV you know like on INTERVENTION…great show Btw. ..wish i would of thought of it.Sending Mikey to the O-house is like shitting the corner of your bedroom and pretending it wont stink and will just go away. It will stink and it will be there for a long time..unless someone cleans it up..gross huh?
I personally wrote to Intervention, more than once for help, not that it is any of your business. I have to agree with “concerned”, you really are a sad little creature, full of venom and bitterness. Sounds like you could use some help, yourself.
Hey Red, Are you that ignorant? What makes you think that we are not familiar with O House? Do you think that is where we wanted Mike to go? We had another place in mind, but we were turned down by the judge. Denise Grollmus knows better than to write with such bias…and you, little man, have much to learn about compassion and caring for others. Were we exhausted by Mike’s addiction? Of course. But Micheal is fortunate because many people love him and it sounds like you don’t know that kind of friendship and love and for which I am sorry for you. I guess Mike is really better off than many people because he has support. Don’t think for one minute we will be giving Mike a pass when he gets out. The cat is out of the bag now, everyone knows, there will be no second chances. PS…tell Denise there is no such thing as “bad press”, she should know better than to attempt to humilate someone for the sake of just doing so. It was not her right of passage as a reporter to be in judgement of Mike’s situation. However, I understand her own background is not that sterling. As for the employees at O House, what are their names? If they feel this way then perhaps their supervisors need to be contacted and the issue needs to be addressed. Michael did not fake an addiction in an attempt to get out of jail. You really are a stupid.
Someone should contact the O House and let them know about this. I feel bad for Mike.
To Red,
Why are you here? There must be something in it for you. You are not checking on this blog for the fun of it, something has tweeked your interest…fess up or shut up.
Enough!
In response to An old friend, Bill and anyone else who wishes to contact Michael… you can.
He would love to hear from you. You can send your letters to
CBCF
Michael Kaminski
264 E. Crosier
Akron, Oh 44311