The Michigan Department of Attorney General (DAG) works tirelessly to protect and serve the people of Michigan. The DAG handles a wide range of legal matters from civil and criminal cases, to providing legal counsel to state agencies and officers, to advocating for crime victims.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General utilizes the services of Special Assistant Attorneys General from time to time when the unique circumstances of a particular case create the need for specialized services not currently available within the department.
The Michigan Attorney General has determined that a full and complete investigation of what happened within the Catholic Church is required. This investigation is and will continue to be independent, thorough, transparent, and prompt. My department and this investigation will find out who knew what, and when.
The Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) investigates claims of innocence to determine whether there is clear and convincing new evidence that the convicted defendant was not the person who committed the offense.
In Michigan, a victim is an individual who suffers direct or threatened physical, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime.
Elder abuse happens when someone hurts, ignores, or takes advantage of an older adult. This may be someone who is of advanced age or is vulnerable and unable to protect themselves due to a mental or physical issues.
An expungement is a way to remove past offenses from your public record. Expansions under the “Clean Slate” laws include eligibility for up to three felonies and unlimited misdemeanors, excluding certain assault or weapons offenses and felonies that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
To investigate and prosecute hate crimes by following up on every credible tip and offer departmental resources to assist local and federal law enforcement partners in this effort.
The Michigan Attorney General is leading the fight against this horrific crime by prosecuting the state's first-ever criminal cases under state law banning human trafficking in Michigan. Victims of human trafficking are in bondage through force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose of sex or labor exploitation.
Knowing how to guard your personal information is your first line of defense against identity theft.
Michigan workers enjoy a wide variety of legal protections regarding issues at work. There are a number of state and federal statutes that protect their wages, safety, and well-being.
Opioid addiction knows no social or economic barriers; it doesn’t care about race or gender. It claims young and old alike. The Michigan Department of Attorney General is committed to fighting this crisis.
Michigan Attorney General's robocall initiative is leading several efforts to protect Michigan residents from the billion plus robocalls made to them every year.
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq, provides that requesters can receive copies or make inspections of most public records of public bodies upon written request.
The Open Meetings Act (OMA) took effect January 1, 1977. In enacting the OMA, the Legislature promoted a new era in governmental accountability and fostered openness in government to enhance responsible decision making.1 Nothing in the OMA prohibits a public body from adopting an ordinance, resolution, rule, or charter provision that requires a greater degree of openness relative to public body meetings than the standards provided for in the OMA. 2
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March 04, 2026
LANSING – Today, the Department of Attorney General announced it has concluded its review of the April 6, 2025, officer-involved shooting death (PDF) of Cameron Cothern, without issuing charges against the officer involved, finding they acted in self-defense and defense of others on-scene. An investigation of the shooting incident was conducted by the Michigan State Police First District Investigative Section.
On the afternoon of April 6th, 2025, an Ingham County Sheriff’s Office Deputy arrived near mile marker 61 on US-127 in response to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a single adult male walking southbound on the northbound portion of the highway, with no apparent vehicle nearby. There the Deputy found Cameron Cothern and approached him in his marked patrol car. Cothern produced a knife in each hand and continued toward the patrol car, at which point the Deputy requested additional officers to the scene.
The Deputy reversed his patrol car away from the approaching Cothern, variably walking and running toward the vehicle, and used the public address system of his vehicle to assure Cothern he was there to help him, instructed him to “get off to the side of the highway,” and again stated his intent to assist Cothern. Over the next eleven minutes the Deputy stated his intent to help or assist Cothern more than 20 times and ordered him to drop his weapons more than 15 times. Cothern continued toward the vehicles of responding officers, at times crouching in front of or running between the vehicles, until officers were no longer able to keep traveling southbound in the northbound lanes and stopped and exited their vehicles.
As the Deputy and other responding officers exited their vehicles, Cothern was on the opposite side of the short guardrail, running northbound in the southbound lanes toward oncoming traffic with a knife in each hand. An officer from the Mason Police Department attempted to deploy a taser, which did not connect with Cothern to any effect. Cothern then jumped over the guardrail and ran toward the officer, who turned and ran in the direction of the Ingham County Sheriff’s Deputy. The officer fell to the ground as Cothern lunged toward them, at which point the Deputy fired his pistol three times, fatally striking Cothern.
Emergency aid was immediately rendered upon Cothern by officers on-scene and continued by arriving emergency medical responders.
Attorneys at the Department of Attorney General reviewed written reports from the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office, Mason Police Department, and Michigan State Police, relevant 9-1-1 calls, statements from officers present at the scene, body-worn and patrol car camera footage, citizen-captured footage from the scene, scene photographs, Mr. Cothern’s autopsy report, Mason Police Department and Ingham County Sheriff’s Office use of force policies, and other material.
The legal issue in this case was whether the Ingham County Sheriff’s Deputy acted in a legal manner during their interaction with Cameron Cothern when they used deadly force by discharging their weapon. Law enforcement officers have the same privilege of self-defense as anyone else. An officer’s decision about the level of force necessary to control an individual will be based on the officer’s perception of the threat and the subject’s apparent ability to carry out that threat.
Here, under all of the facts and circumstances presented, the Department concluded that the Ingham County Sheriff’s Deputy acted in self-defense and defense of their fellow responding officer when they fatally shot Cameron Cothern, who was attempting to attack responding officers at the time of his death.
The Department of Attorney General is available to lead or support any investigation of an officer-involved shooting at the request of any county prosecutor or law enforcement agency within the state and today renews this commitment and offer.
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Michigan’s drivers to receive at least $890,000