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Wow, I think he need to go on Jay Leno as a bigger celeb than when he played in the band. What a shame, he was so talented and a good looking guy at one time, he had alot going for him and if he got into drugs it is so sad what has happened to him. Now he is the butt of jokes, but who was there to help him when he was struggling with his addiction...which he probably was a part of his life in the band Cop shoot cop. Really sad, I think the music community should reach out to him and help him help himself. Don't they have a fund for these guys who fall by the wayside, like a discarded musical instrument? Where is our compassion for this man and what has happened to him, funny as it may seem you never know when desperation may engulf you and you may make a choice that will gain you unfamous for your 15 minutes of fame. Sadly, Micheal had been afflilated with cop shoot cop and had lived an interesting life as a rocker for a while and has been unable to rebuild his life when that good life was over. Tragic.

...Hey, I remember him, he was a super good guitarist and quite a talent in his own right. I agree with you, it is a shame what has happened to this man. It is always sad when someone falls that low and is that desperate for funds that he has to resort to crime to put food on the table. Very sad.

I want to thank Gwen and Izzi top for the kind comments. Michael is my brother. It's hard to read all the blogs, the articles and watch the news while they poke fun and ridicule a situation that is so much more than the crime he committed. I don't condone his actions but I do sympathize with individuals who have been crippled by their addictions.

Getting help to "get well" is not as easy as one may think. If there is anyone out there with suggestions, I would like to hear from you as I too am desperate. Desperate to help my brother. Thank you.

I too would like to thank Gwen & Izzy for their comments on my brother Michael.
Those of you who truly know him, know that when Michael is "Clean", he is a great person.
He has a disease. He is an "Addict" to a very ugly drug. Any of you critics know
anything about it? Do you know what it's like? Do you have a loved one or a friend that is an addict? It is very hard for our family to read the jokes and the ignorant comments when we are hurting so much for Michael. I have only read a select few and have chosen not to read anymore.
I am not saying what he did and has done is right because it isn't, but it is clear that this act was out of pure desperation. I believe he had fear for his life and in his mind it was the only way. He needs help and there is none. The system is quite messed up when it comes to helping addicts.

Thanks to those who continue to show support.
Those who cvan't, keep you comments to yourself.

P.S. Sorry for the typo "Those of you who can't (not cvan't), keep your comments to yourself."

I also would like to ask Denise Grollmus
if she enjoys trashing people that she doesn't even know. You should be ashamed of yourself Denise. Heartless.

Hey, Denise, you have written an article that is not quite accurate and certainly not fair. Why don't you interview Mr. Kaminski and find out the story behind the "story" you have written. This is a tragic story of desperation and addiction and a public health system which is broken and absurd. This man needed help and was unable to obtain it, go ahead and feed the frenzy Denise, I believe your article followed suit with the others that needed to find humor in a situation that is truly tragic. Shameful.

I think interviewing Kaminski is a great idea. I think more ignorant people in this society need to learn more about this growing problem with ADDICTION. It doesn't matter what race you are or what income you have, there a millions of addicts out there who desperately need help. you get people like Denise who takes pride in her job tearing people apart that she doesn't even know.

Whatever. If you're familiar with Denise Grollmus's work, if you've read her articles before, you would know that she is an honest, talented, and fair reporter. I've come across many articles she has written aimed at helping those in need, those without a voice. I am a recovering addict, and as sad as some of the things I did were, I can't live down how stupid they were, also. Humiliation helps keep me sober--maybe it'll help Michael Kaminski, also.

Aleas...my thoughts are with you and Michael. I remember him in the 90's. I was an avid fan of CSC, here in New York City. Your brother was/is as kind as he was/is talented.

Good luck. Be strong.

Denise, Please do a story on how the rise and fall of fame can lead to this. I lived in NYC too. I remember this dude, what is so sad is how his community never engulfed him and helped him help himself. Did anyone try? What is your music community like, don't they try and stick together? Did he really borrow instruments and sell them at a pawn shop? Did you check with the pawn shop? If true than that should have been your first clue that this dude was into drugs...he would have never done something like that without having an addiction. Have a heart here and do some more in depth reporting and find out what you can do to help this guy get back up and running in the right direction. Talent wasted...so hard to swallow...don't feed the frenzy but be a part of the solution. Why not organize a fundraiser to assist individuals involved in this type of activity, why doesn't someone in your area do something positive for this man instead of kicking him when he is down. In New York there are places you can go for assistance and even funds available to help people like this. Ohio needs to get it together man.

Hello all -- Denise Grollmus here. I've been reading all of your comments with great interest. It's true, addiction is a very sad, complicated problem.

To Mike's sisters -- I'm deeply sympathetic and sorry for your pain. Watching a loved one spiral downward is a torturous and helpless place to find oneself. I wish you tons of strength.

But I also know that you can't help anyone who doesn't want to help himself and Mike, obviously, has no interest in helping himself. I know Mike. He's a nice guy, I guess, despite his addiction. But in the end, addicts and sober folk alike, we all need to take full responsibility for our actions. We can't simply excuse the fact that Mike attempted to rob someone because of his sorry ass addiction. There are consequences for such behavior, sober or otherwise. And by the age of 41, Mike should know that, addicted to heroin or not. And anyone who disagrees is really just enabling his drug abuse.

Let me say that I also know the guy who Mike tried to rob. He's had a gun stuck in his face twice in the past year. Sorry, but my sympathy lies with him -- a regular dude, minding his own business, working to survive like the rest of us. Are we to tell him, "Sorry, dude. The guy is addicted to heroin. Don't be pissed he threatened your life." Don't think so. And the fact that Mike used a fake gun doesn't matter, because he obviously wanted the clerk to think it was real. Do you know what it's like to stare down a barrel? It's not fun. In fact, the folks I know who've been held at gun point say its downright traumatic and life altering. Oh, and Mike had a knife on him, too. And I don't think it was for wood whittling, either.

Addiction is no excuse to commit violent crimes. In fact, most violent crimes are drug related. Should we have sympathy for everyone who murders, rapes, and robs because they can't get off the stuff? Simply dismiss their actions as a side effect of their heroin addiction and move on? I don't think so.

This isn't about dismissing Mike's addiction -- this is about holding him responsible for his terrible and stupid action. Who knows, a little public humiliation might do him some good. Doesn't seem like much else has worked.

And as for the dude from NYC calling out the Ohio music scene for being somehow responsible for Mike's sins -- Pulease. You guys are like the capital of enabling, drug abusing egoists. Isn't NYC where Mike got his taste for the China White? And now you want us crackers to fix his problems? Looks like someone needs a little Rehab 101. If you think some fundraiser is gonna bring Mike back from the dark side, you've been drinking too many $8 Pabsts, my friend.

Mike used to work at a coffee shop in akron called arabica i knew him sort of well when he worked there. he was really nice and always talked about music and his time in cop shoot cop. eventually me and some friends got to know him well enough to loan him "gear". one friend mperticular loaned him his prized possession a four track that he had saved up for for months. Well Mike borrowed it quit his job and pawned the thing. People tried to reach out to this dude be he always burned them. don't blame akron kids for this dudes problem. addiction is fucked up but only the addict can decide to deal with his/her problems. besides that the guy he robbed is a good friend of mine who had been stuck up months earlier with a real gun. does anybody give a fuck about him? some people are just motherfuckers and this dude could definitely be one.

To address Denise's comments:
I don't feel that Michael should not be held responsible for his actions, nor do I feel what he has done should be excused in a court of law because of his addiction. The knife wasn't used for whittling, you guessed right. My grandfather gave it to him years ago and he has carried it ever since. In my opinion, if he thought of the knife as a weapon, he would have never went to the trouble with the whole "fake gun". Again, my opinion. Do I think his actions should be dismissed simply because he is a heroin addict? Absolutely not. And yes, I would agree that most violent crimes are drug related. Our "system" sucks. Here are some things to think about....
how about the drug companies who make it impossible for addicts/alcholics to get help due to their outrageous prices for addict-fighting drugs? And then there are the LEGAL clinics that treat addicts with METHADONE!! How about insurance companies that pay significantly less benefits for mental health care vs medical? If they pay at all. Have you or a loved one ever sought treatment for an addiction? There are a million people just like him who will continued to be "recycled" through the system. Humiliation and jail might be good for "detox" and that's about it. I don't know the answer to alot of this but the way I see it this is an example of a problem itself that has spiraled out of control. You mention you know Mike. You know him or you've met him?

K:

To answer your question: I don't know your brother well at all. I have met him only a handful of times, through friends, at shows, in the coffee shop. I make no personal judgments. I can only say that he was nothing less than gracious and interesting and I'm really sorry to hear that he struggles to stay clean. I imagine that if he would, he'd be a great contributor to Akron and its music scene.

I agree that part of dealing with crime is to battle the root cause -- often drug addiction. The system does attempt to do this. Whether it succeeds, well, that's questionable, right? I would gander that your brother will be placed into a drug diversion program and his sentence suspended, unless, of course, he's got a decent list of priors. If this happens, hopefully he'll take his time in the program seriously. There is as much a problem with the addicts as the system itself. If someone refuses treatment, how can the system work? I personally have used the public mental health services provided in Summit County. They were excellent. But they only help insofar as you want the help. Sobriety is an uphill battle, addicts often falter, and it's hard to rise above, but it is possible.

The problem is that Mike is still robbing video stores to feed his addiction. Doesn't sound like he's really in a phase where he's ready to be treated. But, of course, that is just my opinion, not as a journalist, but simply as a person who has watched many friends suffer from this horrible disease.

I understand that you weren't condoning your brother's actions -- just asking the media (namely, me) to be more sensitive to why he might stoop to such a sad level. Fair enough. However, I don't think that your brother's recent run-in with the law begged a touching narrative treatment of an addict's struggle. The guy held up a video store clerk with a cologne bottle because he wanted money for drugs. I don't care if his name is Sam. That's it. The End. That's the story. For me to expound on how the system fails men like Mike, driving them to rob people with bottles of Stetson, well, I don't agree with that. Also, that'd be a hasty, derivative, and irresponsible journalistic analysis on my part.

I don't think many people will be sympathetic to a man who had all the opportunity and promise in the world and abandoned it all to threaten the lives of common folk for drugs. You don't earn much empathy by sticking up a twenty-something video clerk with a fake gun.
Nor should you.

You've made some good points and I will agree with alot of what you have said. However, seeing how this was portrayed from a "journalists" view is still somewhat disturbing to me. Not yours in particular but as a whole has made me realize that when I see a similar "story", I will most definitely keep in mind that there is most likely more to it than is being reported. After all, the rest of this is probably not near as appealing as simply reporting that an idiot robbed a video store with a cologne shaped bottle.

May I comment here please, I knew Mike for about two years...the one thing I would like to say is this...his relationship with his Grandfather was very important to him, he talked a lot about his Grandfather and how he impacted his life. He has pictures of himself with his grandfather and when he spoke of him you could tell he was very fond and respectful of him. I know he carried that knife with him all the time because he wanted to have a remembrance of his grandfather with him. This whole thing is just too much to bear, so very sad. I understand where Denise is coming from but knowing Mike like I do, I know he would not hurt a fly, the fact that he used a fake gun does tell a lot about what state of mind he was in. I hope Mike gets into rehabilitation and rebuilds his life and first and foremost repays his debts (Pawn shop) so he may forgive himself and then start to rebuild, he never would have done that if he were not into drugs. May God help him.

Please help Michael help himself, and please pray for him. I know he must feel awful about what has transpired. My heart is so heavy with shame, regret, and anquish that I could not do more than I did to help him. I think Denise is correct when she says he needs to help himself first and foremost, and inaddition he needs to make restitution to his victims and he needs to rebuild his life, one day at a time. I am praying for him. I believe he has hit bottom and he has no where to go but up. Let's hope he will find the strength and dignity to go forward, and know he should warmly feel the hands of support upon his back from this blog. A long haul it will be, but he needs to gather strength and go forward, I am certain after this there will be no second chances.

He's been doin' stupid shit since his days in Vinylback. Looks as if the karmic wheel has done rolled over his ass.

What did he do to you that you would be so negative towards him? What stupid things did he do since his days in Vinylback? Does he need to make restitution to you? Let us know, we want to help Mike...do you?

So, I didn't know this guy, but I've known addiction. Very sad, and the guy's in my prayers, and so is the guy he threatened with violence. Hope he's okay.

But maybe some of you who did know him could answer some questions. There have been some comments that the system let him down, and that there is nothing in place to help him.

What happened back in 2004 when he was convicted for theft and possession of heroin? Summit county case number CR-2004-05-1572 C right? He was sent to a drug treatment facility instead of prison. He was sent to RAMAR right? But then he violated his probation somehow, and went to prison for a year. What did he do? How did the system fail him? What else could the system have done for him?

He's looking at 2 to 8 years now for this charge. Does anybody think something else would help him? Would help Akron?

To Mikes' Sisters,
Hi,

I just recently returned to Cleveland to be shown this weeks Scene featureing the editorials re: the initial article on Mikes episode.I think I met you once or twice dropping Mike off, I am sorry for what you all have to go through..
I was friends w/ Mike years ago in Kent for about 3 years .. Vinylback days. I've long outgrown my "gateway" addictive past I shared w/ Mike and others in our circle and know he can too!!! Our drugs of choice from Caffiene at Brady's,beers at the Double , to our infamous "Pill nights",assisted us in handling life from a creative perspective in a world gone nuts{ it was the first Gulf War, and both of us were far too creatively brilliant to fit in anywhere w/ out the confidance neither of us were shown/ given in our homelives. No judgements.. but those of us who are gifted need so much more support & reassurance than is most times humanly apparent or possible.
I made sure to do my best to give it to my son.. and reclaim my own once I realized it held the key to so much .
My road was/is a daily choice "not to use" that eventually became the habit.I never faced the demon heroin, but know other drugs well..I was there when Mike started talking about snorting it,and distanced myself .
For me there were no rehabs, no steps, no long dramas.. but I am no better or worse or less addicted. I did get over all my numbing agents on my own w/ resolve{ except cigarettes grrrr.} Please ask him to reach deep w/ in and find that inside that IS WORTH IT!!! He's worth it.. Life is worth it..the colors ,sounds and smells of it all are so much better through clear vision! ..

Please give him my best, not sure if he remembers me we were usually "playing" I just sent my own son to college, and believe me alot of my college day activites have been forefront in my mind ..most say I've done good w/ my life, although in a very non traditional inner success ...far far from my Hudsonite parents expectations . I've never forgotten your brother and his shining eyes.. warm smile .. and sarcastic jokes and ever present impish oh shucks humor... if there is anything I can do.. please let me know... I am sorry you all have to go down this embarrassing rabbit hole w/ him!putting up w/ so many ignorant folks ancedotal biullshit most of all ....I am sorry to have lost touch w/ him along my life's journey.

Be audatious! Hope ! Have faith he too can face this time head on and help himself to a better future..
Strength,
Leatrice Tolls
AKA Lee

Lea,
On behalf of my family, thank you sooo much for your kind words, your thoughts and sharing your personal experiences as well as some of your positive memories of Michael - they are very much appreciated. I will pass on your well wishes to him. Again, thank YOU for taking the time to post to this blog and share your thoughts and most of all making yourself available. You are a gem.

To Curious:

So, you have done your homework on Michael? Interesting. As with all addictions individuals have relaps as do alcoholics, as you know about that addiction I understand. So he had been struggling once again and was turned away by the system, so what's your point? He has an illness and he doesn't deserve treatment? Is that your logic? You must be a right winger...now that's a real tragety. Regardless of Michael's past record he still has the problem, some people find cancer a little hard to shake too. An illness is an illness is an illness. When this country starts to recognize what a hinderance nonreceptive health care is to addition only then will we be able to help those afflicted with this disease heal. Speaking of healing, how about Michael and his injuries from the individual who beat him up, if that were a police man, that would be considered brutality, if I were Mike, I would sue the shit out of him.

Yeah.................I agree too~! Mike should file a lawsuit and sue this limp martial arts guy who had no business beating him up. All he had to do was (once he saw the gun was fake on the ground) was to hold Mike down and then call the police, not to continue beating him up relentlessly. I smell a lawsuit here, and a damn good one!

Mike, My thoughts and prayers are with you, take care dude and hang tight. Peace.

A Fan from way back when.

Hello Denise,
I have received a letter from Michael to you. I wasn't sure how to contact you but figured I'd post here and see what happens. If you are interested in the letter, please email me on where to send it. Thank you.

why is that brothers dont come out and ask for help until after someting like this happens

I see where the justice system got it right this time. Congratulations to Judge Cosgrove for her brilliant legal mind in determining a fair and just punishment that fits this type of crime. Perhaps now maybe Mr. Kaminski will be able to rebuild his life. We will be watching and waiting, and observing him from afar, we are confident that he won't disappoint us.

He may be the nicest guy in the world. But if I had been in that video store when he tried to rob it, this article would have been his obituary. And rightfully so.

Such is the life of a worthless drug addict.

Are you a family member looking for sympathy? You'll find it in the dictionary, somewhere between "shit" and "syphilis."

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, a little touchy are we? Feeling the heat of your anger are we? Tell your friends at the video and tanning store who beat Michael to a pulp (when they already had him down) that as far as many people are concerned, they would/should be facing quite a lawsuit. As for Michael, the hope is that he will be able to get better and live a productive life. Anger in people like you is why this country is in such a mess, with ignorance at its height thus resulting in hysteria of individuals who are unable to control their emotions and unfortunately become vigilantes taking the law into their own hands, somewhere between all this nonsense of your quoted words of choice, in the dictionary of your choice, is another word, it is called "justice". Just in case you are having trouble understanding that term let me clarify it for you..."the quality of being just;fairness, the upholding of what is just, esp. fair treatment and due reward inaccordance with the law, the administration and procedure of the law, conformity to the FACTS and to FAIR reason. A judge, to treat fairly and with full appreciation of the law.
Is that "somewhere" in the dictionary more appropriate of where your mind should be, instead of in the gutter. The judge made the correct decision and if I were you I would be careful about threatening people who blog here. Your useage of the noun "obituary" in that context was inappropriate. Have a nice life and get some anger management.

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You got it!!! You go girl or guy or who ever you are.

I have been following this story about Mike Kaminski. Does he know or have access to these blogs? I doubt he does being in rehab but he should probably be made aware of them and understand what is being written about him. He may have a different story to tell

No I doubt he has access to any computer services at this moment. Hopefully he is concentrating on his rebilitation and busy with those services.

Oh my gosh! I've just found this blog. I no longer live in Ohio but was involved in the Kent music thing in the late 80's/early 90's. Michael is so talented, funny,smart,and definitely not aggressive or violent. When I found out what he did I was stunned for days. We haven't spoken in over 10 years but it still felt like a giant weight that I couldn't seem to put down. Those of us who have loved or love him are hurting because of this. Please do your best this time to get it right, man! I wish I could write to him.

Mike is as close of a brother that I will ever have. We've been friends since third grade. Some of my best memories were standing beside him on stage and laughing about life off stage. Mike is not a saint, but he is far from a criminal. Since he found H in NYC (touring with CSC), he has never been the same - that drug is just pure evil and has had a death grip on his soul. Mike's family and friends have done all they can for him, but he needs to find strength from deep inside or even high above to pull it together to rid himself of his demons.

Mike, I am making a plea to you to pull it together man. This has gone on far too long. YOU must turn this thing around and get YOUR life back. Your family and friends are counting on you and we miss the man with the sparkle in his eyes.

To Mike's sisters. Please contact me, I would love to hear from you.

Wow...Mike is so lucky to have such supportive friends and family. Many people have been unnecessarily cruel here. That is so sad.

I wonder why some of you believe that just because you know this man, all action taken against him because of HIS action is wrong. I understand the man needs help, that is obvious, but as a personal friend of all employees of that video store, I cannot agree with the sentiment that THEY should have legal action taken against them. No one knew until AFTER the melee that the gun was indeed fake. How scared would you be?

If a man points a gun at you and you take him down, would you not feel terrified that this man may try and hurt you if he got away or even got up? ALSO he was carrying a six inch boot knife, something not ever mentioned in the papers, I understand when he is sober he is a good guy, but under the influence who is to say that he would not have tried to use that knife as well? This was also the THIRD time in THREE MONTHS the place got robbed, and they were pretty sure he was both the first and third robber.

I'm sorry for all who know him, but realize that he must now pay for his action, regardless of whether or not it helps him, it is what is due. Man has free will to dictate his own actions and to reap what he sows.

Should all crimes due to drug addiction be excused? Perhaps the assailant would not act the same under the drug, but they still ACTED, regardless of intention. Also, just because you personally know someone just means that you understand there plight better, but it is in no way different from ANYONE who robs ANYWHERE, you just see justification that it "truly isn't his fault" it was drugs, the economy, etc...

to Legalism: Just because you know a bunch of people that "feel" that the employees of the video store and tanning salon should have legal action taken against them, doesn't mean they should. May I rob YOU without fear of retaliation? Talk to the arresting police officers and the employees themselves. Again I stress the boot knife and that fact that everyone thought it was a real gun for most of the duration of the event. You know nothing of what actually occurred, only the bastardization that the newspapers produce.

The plain fact is: An ARMED (fake gun AND REAL ILLEGAL CONCEALED knife) man attempted to ROB a place of business. JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ROBBERY, even if he is an addict, he still took illegal action and his addiction does not excuse him.

And yes I do hope he gets the help he deserves (sadly he is going through the Oriana House program which RARELY helps an individual break free of addicition), I'm just saying that he is still wrong in his action and deserves that punishment as well.

to family/friends: I feel sorry that he put you all through this, and I hope that you can all help him to become a functional member of society again. Unlike the gun-toting poster, I wish him no ill will, and wish no one to remain in the gutter of severe drug addiction.

He should be thankful he didn't try and rob the Dairy Mart or the Delia Market, those robbers got shot (not dead though, thankfully).

I just have to say, hmmmm,that I do not think that all action taken against him because of his crime is wrong. We, his friends, care what happens. I know he has a struggle ahead of him and i would like to see him get his act together once and for all. I also never suggested he sue anyone. What a nightmare to be working at a video store in February in Akron. Jeez.

This is the first we have heard of the video store owner stating that Michael was the suspect of the first and second robbery. That is not in accordance with the legal description given to the Akron City Police Department pertaining to the previous robberies. Why would you lie on this blog? What purpose does that serve? By the why, those men who beat Michael, once he dropped the cologne bottle and they knew he was not a threat (don't bore me with that knife bs, that knife was gift to him from his grandfather and is a memory of his relationship to his grandfather, he has always carried that knife) should have refrained Michael from escaping and then called the police. But what did they do, to prove their manlessness, they beat him to a pulp for the fun of it. Kicking him over and over and over again. If you would have seen him afterward you would understand. Those guys should be working overtime at the videostore in preparation for their own legal fees.

...right on man! Those two guys who beat Michael took it way too far and now may find themselves in a bit of trouble with a civil suit. I can understand why they were mad and frightened at first but facts are facts and when that fake gun, that cologne bottle dropped and broke they knew then what they were up against also Mike is a small man and these two dudes are big guys, I mean big guys, unfortunately I have seen them both. They were parading around like peacocks after this happened basting in the glory of their infamous fame. If I were them, I would be looking for a good defense attorney. What they did was wrong and against the law. It is a shame it has come to this. Mike has tremedous medical bills as a result of what they did to him. They will have to pay for that plus other damages. It is really up to Mike as to what to do and so far he has not indicated that he will do anything, but that does not stop others from suing these two guys for him. Mainly the medical facilites wanting payment for the medical bills. They can through a civil suit come after those two guys (fools) for payment of the medical bills. What a mess. Tragic.

...Mike should look in the yellow pages for an attorney, sounds like a done deal to me.