A single dad is in disbelief after discovering that a close family member allegedly sold his children’s presents for drugs right before Christmas.
According to a Dec. 20 report from the Van Buren Sheriff’s Department, a man from Paw Paw, Mich. stole the Christmas gifts purchased for his four grandchildren through the Van Buren County’s Shop with the Sheriff program and sold and traded them for methamphetamine.
The man, identified as 62-year-old Donald Lucas Sr., was arrested by the narcotic unit during a meth investigation, officials said.
Lucas Sr.’s son, Don Lucas Jr., a dad of four, told local outlet Fox 17, “I was crying. I was breaking up crying over it. What am I going to do? I cannot believe that somebody would come and steal the gifts from the kids.”
The outlet reported that more than $1,000 in gifts were allegedly stolen.
Mugshot of Donald Lucas Sr.
Van Buren County Sheriff
Fox 17 noted that Lucas Sr. allegedly stole the gifts after his family welcomed him to stay with them for a few days amid the holiday season.
“The grandfather would not cooperate with our office to get the grandchildren’s gifts back,” sheriff’s department officials said.
Lucas Jr.’s four children will still have a festive holiday, as the county was able to repurchase new gifts for the family.
“Our office, Paw Paw Schools, and misc. others gathered up money and gift cards to make their Christmas whole again,” officials added. “We took them out on a shopping spree and made it a Christmas they won’t forget. I personally cannot thank everyone enough for what they did to help make this happen.”
Lucas Jr. is grateful for the support he has received from the community.
“I want to say, thank you, and Merry Christmas,” he told Fox 17. “And it just blew my mind. How many people stepped up to help us.”
Each kid reportedly received more than $500 for new gifts.
Per a release on Dec. 12, the sheriff’s office took five families facing hardships shopping for Christmas presents this year. The money was raised through local events, such as the fair, with supermarket Meijer South Haven matching the donations.
“This event is near and dear to a lot of us and is one event we look forward to doing every year,” officials said.
