LPD probe

THURSDAY, JAN. 22 – Nicole Armbruster, who resigned Monday from the Lansing Board of Education, is under criminal investigation by the Lansing Police Department, sources tell City Pulse.

Sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the police are investigating allegations that she embezzled from the Lewton Elementary School PTA. The Lansing School District’s website said she is the PTA’s vice president and that one of her three children is a third grader.

Armbruster, 35, declined to comment on the investigation when reached by telephone last night. She said she had resigned for personal reasons.

Lansing Police Chief Michael Yankowski confirmed last night that his department has opened an investigation at the school district into allegations he characterized as fraud.

He declined to comment on whether Armbruster was the subject of the probe.

“The Lansing Police Department met with Lansing School District (LSD) school officials on Monday Jan. 19^th to discuss allegations of a possible fraud,” the chief wrote in an e-mail. “After meeting with LSD officials, LPD initiated a fraud investigation.

“Due to the fact that this is an open and active investigation, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on this investigation at this time,” Yankowski also wrote. “However, I would classify it as a fraud investigation.”

“If the investigation determines that there is evidence or probable cause that a crime has been committed, it will be turned over the Ingham Co. Prosecutor’s Office for review. There is no estimated timetable for the completion of investigation.”

Armbruster provided a copy of her resignation letter to City Pulse.

“While I appreciate the honor of serving on the Board,” the letter states, “personal family circumstances have led me to reconsider my ability to make this ongoing commitment.” The letter was dated Jan. 19, and the resignation was immediately effective.

The resignation and letter will be formally presented at a meeting of the Lansing School Board at 6:30 tonight.

“I have submitted my resignation for family reasons,” Armbruster said by phone Wednesday night. “Anything beyond that, I have no comment and will have to refer you to my attorney.”

Eric Shepard, Armbruster’s attorney, declined to comment on the situation.

School board President Peter Spadafore referred questions regarding any criminal investigations to Lansing Police.

"We caution everyone to refrain from unfair speculation,as a mere referral does not mean that there has been a determination of wrongdoing or any actual impropriety," Spadafore said in a statement issued today by the school board.

Armbruster was appointed to the board in January 2011, and was retained by voters in November of that year. Her name had been mentioned as a possible contender to fill the vacant Ingham County register of deeds position. Applications for the position are due by Friday.

Armbruster is a graduate of Michigan State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, according the school district’s website. It also says she works for the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority, but sources said she no longer does. They said she left there because of a reorganization and then worked briefly for the Ingham County Treasurer’s Office. “It didn’t work out,” Treasurer Eric Schertzing said.