6/22/2025-7/5/2025

DISTRICT 1

Conservation Officers (COs) Byron Parks, Brian Lasanen, and Pete Shambaugh assisted the Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Department search for two missing subjects whose canoe capsized early Saturday morning. It was reported that three individuals were canoeing in Copper Harbor when their vessel capsized. One individual swam back to shore and called 911. After two days of searching, both missing subjects were recovered from the lake.

CO Alex VanWagner and Sergeant (Sgt.) Brian Bacon patrolled a handful of lakes on the 4th of July. A lot of boats were contacted throughout the afternoon with several marine and fishing violations addressed. Five citations were issued, three for fishing without a license, one for failing to provide a personal flotation device (PFD), and one for no helmet on an ATV while the COs were traveling between lakes.

COs Anna Viau, Alex VanWagner, and Sgt. Brian Bacon responded to the scene of a single vehicle crash with injuries. The SUV had left the roadway and had struck a few trees. The driver had minor injuries and was transported to Aspirus Iron River Hospital by Aspirus MedEvac ambulance. Also assisting on scene were the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, West Iron County Fire Department, and Iron County Search and Rescue.

DISTRICT 2

While on routine patrol, CO Robert Freeborn received a call from local dispatch of a subject in the process of trying to harm himself. CO Freeborn responded with Manistique Public Safety as well as the Michigan State Police (MSP). CO Freeborn and an MSP trooper made contact and were able to prevent further injury. The subject was then transported to the local hospital by public safety. The subject is expected to make a full recovery.

CO Robert Freeborn received a complaint about subjects at a local state forest campground not paying for their site. CO Freeborn located the subjects who agreed to pay for the missing days.

CO Andrea Dani received a report of a vandalized dock in Alger County. An unknown subject attempted to move the Au Train Bay dock, breaking welds in the dock. The dock is currently unusable and has been removed from the launch. The matter is under investigation.

COs Mike Olesen and Andrea Dani assisted Recreational Safety, Education, & Enforcement staff at the Chippewa County Shooting Association for the Michigan Youth Sportsman Competition with hunter education scenarios in which students were tasked with identifying violations in three hunting and trapping scenarios.

CO Brandon Maki was patrolling Au Train Lake when he observed a pontoon with two occupants who were both fishing. CO Maki approached the vessel and asked to see their fishing licenses. One subject was able to provide a fishing license and the other stated she did not have one. CO Maki took enforcement action for fishing without a license before clearing the scene.

COs Scott Pankow and Justin Vinson were working marine patrol on the Fourth of July when they observed a boat pulling a tube without a spotter. CO Vinson cited the individual for towing a tube/skier without a spotter.

CO Scott Pankow patrolled near the Cedarville area and observed a boat operating with an expired registration and towing a wakeboard within 100 feet of docks. CO Pankow cited the operator of the watercraft for towing within 100 feet of a dock, and a verbal warning was given for the expired registration.

COs Scott Pankow and Micheal Olesen assisted the Chippewa County Sheriff Department, MSP, and United States Coast Guard (USCG) with security for the annual Engineer’s Day event. The event allows the public the opportunity to tour and walk the Soo Locks.

DISTRICT 3

No report

DISTRICT 4

While on South Lake Leelanau, CO Zack Walters encountered two individuals in a canoe paddling the lake shore by the mouth of the Cedar River. CO Walters observed that there were no PFDs in the canoe. CO Walters issued one citation for failing to provide the required PFD.

COs William Kinney and Zack Walters were following up with charter boat captains in Grand Traverse County. It was reported to CO Kinney that one charter boat captain failed to submit his bi-weekly fishing catch report as required when operating a commercial charter boat business. This captain has been spoken to on several occasions about the importance of the catch report and the deadline that goes along with it. CO Kinney issued a citation to the captain for his delinquency.

CO William Haskin assisted United States Forest Service (USFS) through the Good Neighbor Authority grant funding to provide presence and assistance with a large gathering on USFS property in Wexford County. He was assisted by COs William Kinney, Zack Walters, and Rich Stowe.

CO Josiah Killingbeck responded to an ORV personal injury accident. CO Killingbeck was first to arrive on-scene. CO Killingbeck learned the victim had lost control and sustained a fractured arm. CO Killingbeck splinted the arm, and the victim was turned over to emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. A report was completed for the accident.

CO Josiah Killingbeck responded to a report of a tree that had fallen on a Fed-Ex truck. While enroute, radio traffic indicated the victim was pinned inside the vehicle and seriously injured. CO Killingbeck arrived on-scene and was immediately summoned by EMS personal to assist with extricating the driver and providing first aid. CO Killingbeck assisted in the extraction of the patient and with life saving measures. The patient was taken to a nearby field where an Aeromed helicopter landed and took over care. The patient was flown to a trauma center for his injuries. The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.

CO Josiah Killingbeck, while on patrol, heard a call dispatched for cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in progress. CO Killingbeck responded to the scene to assist. When CO Killingbeck arrived, EMS was not on-scene. CO Killingbeck assisted Lake County deputies with CPR until they arrived. The victim was pronounced deceased on-scene after lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful. 

CO Logan Turner was working at the Silver Lake State Park ORV Area for the July 4th fireworks. At approximately 9:30 PM, a call came out about a child being buried more than five feet deep in the sand in the pedestrian area of the park. The child had been digging a hole which collapsed on him. He had been buried in the sand for over five minutes and had not been located. CO Turner arrived on scene as they were pulling the child out of the sand. The 9-year-old boy was found to have no pulse and was not breathing. CO Turner began CPR on the child, and after some time, the boy began coughing and regained consciousness. The boy was transported by EMS to Trinity Hospital and then transferred to Helen Devos Children’s Hospital, where he recovered, and was released in the following days.

CO Logan Turner and Sgt. Ben Shively provided security and the closing of the Pentwater Channel to Lake Michigan for the annual Pentwater Fireworks with the Oceana County Sheriff’s Department. Over 130 vessels watched the fireworks from Lake Michigan and Pentwater Lake with no major incidents.

CO Ryan Jager received a phone call from CO James Rowley in Ingham County regarding a runaway who was thought to be at a campground in Oceana County. CO Jager assisted the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office in locating the runaway and getting the child back to her parents.

CO Cameron Wright conducted a marine patrol on Fremont Lake in Newaygo County after he observed many operational violations while he was fishing during a day off. During his patrol, CO Wright stopped boaters for failing to operate counterclockwise, failing to yield to oncoming vessels, towing tubers/skiers without observers, juveniles operating personal watercrafts (PWCs) without boater safety certificates and without adult supervision, and many various registration violations.

After CO Cameron Wright concluded his patrol of Fremont Lake, he began driving towards Hardy Pond. While in route, CO Wright observed a pickup truck hauling a speedboat that crossed the fog line numerous times and went partially off the roadway. CO Wright conducted a traffic stop on the pickup truck and suspected the driver of being under the influence of alcohol. CO Wright conducted standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) and arrested the driver for operating while intoxicated (OWI). The driver’s preliminary breath test (PBT) result was a .125 and he was lodged in the Newaygo County Jail for OWI – 2nd offense.

CO Tim Barboza checked two anglers at the Pine Street boat launch on the Muskegon River in Newaygo and discovered that they didn’t have fishing licenses but did have arrest warrants. Both were lodged in jail.

CO Tim Barboza was contacted to assist with a drowning in Mecosta County on Lake Mecosta. A 34-year-old male had been operating a PWC and fell off and was not wearing a PFD. The subject did not resurface, and bystanders attempted to locate him. CO Barboza responded and assisted in attempting to locate the victim using side scan sonar and launching divers from the patrol boat. Due to visibility issues with the end of daylight, the search was called off for the evening to resume in the morning. CO Barboza and Sgt. Ben Shively each responded with a patrol boat the following morning and assisted Mecosta County on the continued search for the drowning victim. The victim was located by MSP Dive Team’s sonar four hours later and was recovered by the Mecosta County Dive Team.

DISTRICT 5

Sgt. Jon Wood and CO Kevin Bunce were patrolling Missaukee Lake on the busy Fourth of July when a call came in regarding an individual experiencing stroke-like symptoms near the sandbar on Lake Missaukee. The caller was unable to provide a good description of their boat other than it was "small." The COs located the subject, who was trying to make his way back to shore, in a small vessel with mechanical problems. The COs transferred the subject into their patrol boat and quickly transported him back to the dock, where EMS was waiting to perform further evaluations.

CO Ryan Weakman investigated a report about a subject burning trash in an open pit, contrary to solid waste disposal laws. The complaint was in a residential area, and the smell of burning plastic was blowing across the neighborhood. CO Weakman located the suspect, who had a smoldering pile of garbage in an open fire pit and issued a citation to the subject.

CO Kyle Cherry and Lt. Mark DePew were on patrol over the holiday weekend on Torch Lake in Kalkaska County when they heard calls for help. The COs spotted a man swimming in the water nearby. They navigated their vessel alongside the male who stated he was becoming exhausted while treading water. The COs pulled the man out of the water and into the boat. The man said he was attempting to swim away from the sandbar to locate his friend’s boat but was unaware of how deep it got and was struggling with the increasing wind. The COs were able to locate the subject’s friends and safely transport him to their boat. They were assisted by the Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Department.

COs Kyle Cherry and Ben McAteer were on patrol in Kalkaska County on Torch Lake when they observed a PWC operating at night in shallow water. The COs stopped the PWC with their patrol boat. Further investigation revealed the operator did not have a boater safety certificate. A citation was issued for operating after sunset.

COs Kyle Cherry and Ben McAteer were on patrol at South Higgins Lake State Park when they were alerted to a highly intoxicated male found underneath a tree. The COs responded and checked on the man who was conscious but confirmed to be highly intoxicated. The COs provided him with water and transported him to EMS personnel for further assessment. Later in the shift, the male, who was in much better condition, located COs Cherry and McAteer and thanked them for looking out for him.

Sgt. Brian Olsen, CO John Huspen, and MSP Trooper Jacob John stopped a PWC on Torch Lake while working Torch Fest in Kalkaska County. The PWC was operating recklessly through the sandbar area where thousands of people were gathered for the Fourth of July. The operator was taken to shore, where Sgt. Olsen had him perform SFSTs. The operator was arrested and lodged in the Kalkaska County Jail for OWI.

CO Casey Pullum was patrolling Comins Flats State Boat Launch during the holiday weekend when he witnessed a white pickup truck transporting two females in the bed of the truck. The driver accelerated quickly, causing the tires to spin in the parking lot, and then sped toward the exit. CO Pullum caught up to the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The male driver exited the vehicle, stumbled to the rear, and with slurred speech attempted to explain that he would have another person drive because he was not “good to drive,” indicating to CO Pullum that he was intoxicated. CO Pullum investigated and subsequently arrested the driver for OWI. The driver was lodged at the Oscoda County Sheriff's Department with a blood alcohol content of .144.

CO Tyler Sabuda was patrolling Iosco County when he observed an older vessel with no registration or MC numbers. CO Sabuda launched his boat and stopped the vessel. The owner advised that he had the paperwork at his cottage. CO Sabuda followed the boat to the cottage, where the operator admitted the boat had never been registered and he was taking his chances since the lake is small and rarely patrolled. While issuing a citation for the unregistered watercraft, CO Sabuda heard jet skis operating erratically and jumping wakes near swimmers. One of the individuals was operating the PWC with no PFD. CO Sabuda stopped the PWC and issued a citation for no PFD, while educating the operator on maintaining distance from swimmers.

While patrolling Alcona County, CO Jesse Grzechowski observed an ORV operating against the flow of traffic and the operator was not wearing a helmet. CO Grzechowski conducted a traffic stop and discovered the operator did not have a valid driver's license. Further investigation revealed the operator had two misdemeanor warrants out of Alcona and Iosco Counties. CO Grzechowski confirmed both warrants and lodged the operator, also citing him for operating an ORV while his license was suspended or revoked.

CO Kyle Bader observed an ORV traveling along the side of the road without a taillight. CO Bader stopped the rider, who was immediately upset because he claimed to have a working taillight that had simply been obstructed by a cooler. Further investigation revealed the ORV was unlicensed, the driver’s license had been revoked multiple times, and there was a felony warrant out of a neighboring county. The driver was able to post bond on the warrant, called someone with a valid license to drive the ORV home, and was issued a citation for operating an ORV while license suspended.

DISTRICT 6

While on marine patrol in the Saginaw Bay, COs Nick McNamee, Paul Lyden and Sgt. Seth Rhodea performed multiple checks on anglers trolling for walleye. One check revealed that two of the three anglers did not have the required fishing license for the 2025 season. They had a combined 17 walleye on board. Citations were issued for possession of fish without a license and the walleye were seized from the individuals fishing without a license.

While on patrol in Saginaw County, CO Nick McNamee was informed from central dispatch of a hostage armed robbery situation at the Mercantile Bank in Saginaw Township. CO McNamee responded to the situation and helped the MSP with clearing nearby buildings of civilians and running a containment barrier for the MSP to operate successfully until the situation was resolved.

CO Dan Robinson presented to cadets at the MSP Cadet Academy at Northwoods University. CO Robinson helped troopers with first aid portions, talked about the history of conservation officers, investigations, and emergency response capabilities. He also gave the cadets a chance to make conjectures about a bear poaching case using evidence examples. 

DISTRICT 7

CO Carter Woodwyk was patrolling Holland State Park when he observed two subjects standing near the opened hatch of a sport-utility vehicle that had a 16-ounce Busch beer can open sitting on the trunk. When the CO made contact, he learned that neither subject was 21 years old. In another incident, CO Woodwyk observed a civilian vehicle parked in an “Employee Only Parking” spot. The CO approached the driver to ask them to move. When the CO approached the vehicle, he observed multiple open cans of alcohol in the cup holders of the vehicle. Due to this state park having a ban on the possession and use of alcohol, all the alcohol was seized and destroyed, and enforcement action was taken.

CO Sam Schluckbier was dispatched to a boating accident that occurred in Allegan County. Witnesses observed a PWC colliding with a pontoon, throwing two subjects into the water. By the time CO Schluckbier arrived on scene, everyone involved was safely on shore. An investigation revealed the operator of the PWC did not have any experience driving and was not legally certified to do so. There were no injuries to the individuals, but minor damage was caused to the pontoon. The operator was tested for intoxicants but was found to be within the legal limit. A citation was issued for the careless operation.

COs from five different Districts assisted staff at the Grand Haven State Park beach on the July 4th Holiday. The 18 COs and two Sgts. handled complaints throughout the day which included simple assaults, missing swimmers, lost children, loud music, various disputes between beach goers, and multiple alcohol-related violations, amongst other criminal behaviors. One incident involved COs assisting the MSP in apprehending a subject who was fleeing from arrest on foot along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The COs later located a shoulder style bag carried by the suspect, which concealed a loaded semi-automatic pistol. The COs assisted the MSP until the investigation was completed. Overall, 31 citations were written, and many more verbal warnings were issued.

DISTRICT 8

CO Ed Rice and Sgt. Chris Maher conducted a park patrol at Waterloo Recreation Area. COs were staged by the Portage Lake boating access site (BAS) and observed a pontoon boat dock at the BAS. CO Rice observed a large amount of AIS attached to the anchor of the vessel. The operator proceeded to load the pontoon boat and then left without removing the aquatic vegetation, which was dragging from the vessel on the road. A stop was conducted, and a citation was issued for transporting boats and trailers without removing aquatic plants. The operator agreed to return to Portage Lake and removed all AIS.

DISTRICT 9

CO Griffin Korican was on a parks detail at Dodge 4 State Park when a PWC was observed pulling into the launch. The operator appeared to be wearing a wake coat and not an approved PFD. Upon contacting the individual, the life jacket was found to be a wake coat and a not an approved PFD. The individual received a citation for not wearing an approved PFD on a PWC.

COs Kris Kiel, Brad Silorey, and Sydney Griffor taught a two-hour block to 29 Youth Academy students at the Chesterfield Police Department. The COs showed videos of the different training that new COs go through during and after the academy and answered many questions about the career.

CO Zack Cardinal and Sgts. Keven Luther and Danielle Zubek patrolled Jobbie Nooner in the same vessel. The COs helped save several people in the water from drowning by throwing a life ring, pulling the individuals to the vessel, and pulling them onto their vessel. The COs dealt with a separated shoulder and a head/neck injury as well on a subject.

CO Zack Cardinal and Sgts. Keven Luther, and Danielle Zubek were flagged down by three people on a PWC. The driver of the PWC explained that he picked up the two passengers from a capsized PWC near Jobbie Nooner. The two female passengers were loaded onto the CO’s vessel and the driver of the PWC lead the COs to the capsized vessel. Another individual was still onsite with the capsized PWC. He was loaded into the CO’s vessel and a towboat was called for retrieval. All three individuals were wearing life jackets and were driven to Command for a ride home.

DISTRICT 10

CO Les Bleil responded to a complaint regarding anglers fishing and keeping grossly undersized smallmouth bass in Wayne County. CO Bleil responded as quickly as possible and was able to successfully locate the individual. The bass in possession measured nine inches, which is five inches short. CO Bleil then asked the angler for his fishing license; he did not have one. The smallmouth bass and three bluegills were confiscated, and a citation was issued for possessing fish without a license and for possessing undersized smallmouth bass.

CO Brandon Hartleben was patrolling the Portage Lake Chain for fishing activity when he observed a pontoon boat displaying an expired registration. A check of the vessel was conducted, and it was determined that the vessel was in fact expired and was also missing a Type IV PFD. The operator was cited for operating an unregistered vessel and warned for not having a Type IV PFD. While concluding the contact, another vessel displaying an expired registration passed through the area. Contact was also made with that vessel. Further investigation revealed that the vessel was in fact expired, and that they were short four wearable PFDs onboard. The operator was cited for both violations.

CO Brandon Hartleben was slowly patrolling through the crowd of vessels during the Whitmore Lake Fireworks and observed what appeared to be the silhouette of a kayak in front of him in the darkness. CO Hartleben approached the kayak to investigate further and observed what appeared to be several subjects in the water in the area as well. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that there were two subjects treading water near swamped kayaks while the third subject attempted to help recover his associates in the water. CO Hartleben carefully maneuvered his patrol boat into position, recovered both subjects in the water, and the swamped kayaks. While delivering the subjects to their location on shore, CO Hartleben reviewed the numerous safety concerns about the situation, since neither of the three subjects had 360-degree white lights on their kayaks, nor did any of them have PFDs. Once on shore, the two adults were cited for failing to have a PFD onboard their kayak and warned for not having a white light.  The son of the one subject, who was attempting to provide aid, was issued a verbal warning for the violations.

CO Brandon Hartleben worked a busy dedicated parks patrol at Pinckney State Recreation Area over the holiday weekend. Numerous citations were issued for no recreation passport and parking in a non-designated area. Additionally, a subject checked fishing on the pier at Silver Lake Day Use Area was issued a citation for fishing without a license.

CO Nicholas Ingersoll was working at Sterling State Park when he received a call for a missing juvenile on the beach who was last seen in Lake Erie. CO Ingersoll was first on scene and able to coordinate with multiple agencies on conducting a search for the missing juvenile. An extensive search was conducted by all agencies on scene. The child was ultimately located approximately a quarter mile down the beach after wandering away from his parents. A happy ending for all agencies on scene during a busy holiday weekend at the park.

While working on Belle Isle, COs Olivia Moeller and Jason Ruth responded to a radio call for an elderly male with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The COs responded with the Detroit Police Department, Detroit Fire and EMS, and MSP. The man was still breathing when first responders arrived on scene. He was transported to Detroit Receiving Hospital and his status is unknown.

CO Elliot Worel spoke with a group of three anglers hanging out in their cars near the main office of Belle Isle. CO Worel asked if they had any luck, one angler stated that he was the only person fishing and that he did. The angler also stated that he was the only person fishing, due to the other two not having fishing licenses. The angler provided his license to CO Worel and showed him the fish he had caught that were in a bucket, in the rear of his vehicle. CO Worel asked him how many he had, and the angler wasn’t sure. CO Worel and the angler both counted out all the man’s caught bluegill to a total of 74 fish. CO Worel issued the angler a citation for possessing 49 fish over a daily limit for sunfish.

CO Nicholas Ingersoll was working a Belle Isle shift when he observed a driver failing to stop at the pay booth while entering the island. CO Ingersoll was able to determine that the vehicle did not have a plate and initiated a traffic stop. CO Ingersoll spoke to the driver and asked why he did not stop and purchase a recreation passport. The driver stated he never stops and just drives by. CO Ingersoll advised the driver he needed a park pass to be on Belle Isle. The driver was issued a citation for failure to buy a recreation passport.

CO Zack Smith was notified of a subject lying face down in a gravel parking lot next to a vehicle while patrolling Belle Isle. CO Smith contacted the subject who smelled highly of intoxicants. The subject ended up taking a preliminary breath test with a result of .438. The subject received a ride to the hospital by Detroit medics for medical treatment.

While travelling to an assigned shift at Belle Isle Park, CO Mark Reffitt was passed by a vehicle doing approximately 90 mph on I-96. The driver had both hands on his cell phone and had not once looked up at the road while he passed the CO’s marked patrol truck and several other cars. CO Reffitt initiated a traffic stop, but the driver still took a moment to notice the emergency lights behind him. Once stopped, the driver apologized and admitted that he had not been paying full attention to the road. CO Reffitt noted the heavy traffic in both lanes of travel and issued a citation to the driver for distracted driving. The motorist was given a warning for speeding.

CO Joshua Salas was on a speed enforcement patrol on Belle Isle when he observed a white Ram truck drive past him. The CO ran the plates on the vehicle through the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) and the registered owner of the vehicle showed an active felony warrant for dangerous drugs. The CO located the individual parking his truck and initiated a contact with him. The CO confirmed that the individual was the registered owner of the vehicle and placed the individual into custody on the felony warrant. He was transported to the Detroit Detention Center.

CO Cody Bourgeois worked a Belle Isle shift on the 4th of July.  During the patrol, the CO dealt with several domestic violence calls and a couple active fires from hot coals that were thrown in the trash bins. Furthermore, during the shutdown of the island, one of the rangers was struck by a car. The CO pursued the vehicle, conducted a traffic stop, and wrote the driver several violations and trespassed the driver from the island.

CO Ariel Young and many other COs from Districts 9 and 10, along with the help of the MSP, patrolled Belle Isle for the Detroit Ford Fireworks. The temperatures were hot, the day was sunny, and there were many people visiting the park and waiting for the fireworks show. CO Young, Lieutenant (Lt.) Damon Owens, and Captain (Cpt.) David Malloch patrolled the park together, interacting with many patrons throughout the day. Many warnings were issued for possessing alcohol at the park without a permit, having tents where prohibited, having grills on the beach, and having unrestrained children in motor vehicles. The COs also responded to a medical complaint where a young child had been running through the grass and stepped on a bed of hot coals someone had dumped into the grass. EMS was called for the child who suffered second and third degree burns to the bottom of their foot.

While working the Ford Fireworks detail at Belle Isle, CO Ariel Young, Lt. Damon Owens, and Cpt. David Malloch were flagged down by a park patron and were told that their mother’s car had been broken into and that the person was now armed as they had stolen a pistol from the vehicle. As CO Young was relaying information for a “Be on the Lookout” for the suspect, Lt. Owens and Cpt. Malloch located the suspect and made contact. CO Young then joined them and assisted with detaining the suspect until it could be verified if they were the one involved with the larceny. The COs were able to recover two stolen pistols at the scene and the subject was arrested.

While working a Belle Isle shift, CO Ariel Young was conducting a stationary RADAR patrol on the back side of the island. A vehicle passed CO Young traveling 50 mph and increasing. CO Young initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. After talking with the group in the vehicle, it was discovered that the reason for the excessive speed was the need to use the restroom. CO Young quickly issued a citation for speed and sent the group on their way to the nearest restroom.

GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)

Corporals (Cpls.) Pat Hartsig and Nick Atkin, along with CO Brad Silorey, conducted a patrol checking for illegal nets historically set near Walpole Island. No nets were located. The COs then assisted with a security perimeter for the Ford Fireworks in the Detroit River.

Cpls. Troy Van Gelderen and Tom Peterson taught Basic Marine Enforcement Training for Training Academy 13 recruits and the Michigan State Police Marine Services Team at Lake Margrethe in Grayling.

Cpl. Justin Vanderlinde assisted District 4 COs by maintaining a security perimeter for the National Cherry Festival air shows and practice events.

Cpl. Todd Sumbera conducted dockside patrols in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Sanctuary. Multiple divers were contacted on charters, with regulations discussed and no violations observed.

Cpls. Cole VanOosten and Todd Sumbera assisted in securing a safety zone on the Upper St. Mary’s River during the Soo Locks Engineer’s Day. One vessel was contacted while attempting to access the controlled area, but no issues were observed during the detail.

Cpl. Jon Busken participated in multiple aquatic invasive species (AIS) outreach events with Fisheries Division staff in Van Buren and Kalamazoo Counites. Multiple contacts were made, and several warnings were issued.

ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS SECTION (EIS)

On February 8, 2024, Detective Jacob Griffin was notified by Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) that the Bear Creek was discolored and blue/green in color. The City of Warren traced the release back to a particular set of storm drains located at a metal plating business recently purchased by two business partners. EGLE, Macomb County officials, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted sampling of the creek confirming the release of various chemicals to the storm drains located at the commercial building which was storing hazardous chemicals and formally used as a metal finishing company. It was discovered that the building was sold “as is” around the month of August 2023. Although informed of the hazardous chemicals on the property, the new owners failed to notify EGLE of the chemicals in the building while unlawfully storing the hazardous waste and other liquid industrial by-products (LIB). 

Detective Griffin opened an investigation into the incident and interviewed numerous subjects including City of Warren officials. Detective Griffin discovered that the two property owners have had multiple conversations with the City of Warren who advised them of the hazardous waste in the building and that it needed to be cleaned, stored, and disposed of properly. The two owners did not take any action to dispose of the waste inside the building. Detective Griffin’s investigation showed that the new owners failed to maintain the building causing water lines to break which flooded the building. Furthermore, the owners admitted that following the water line break in the building, they removed what they called “dirty water” from inside the building out the door into the storm drain. EGLE’s Water Resources Division (WRD) conducted sampling from the storm drains on the property which showed concentrations of copper, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), cyanide, cadmium, and chromium, as well as high levels of other metals including nickel, manganese, lead, and zinc. Evidence, witness statements, and photographs indicated the mixture of chemicals was discharged from inside the building directly into the storm drains adjacent to the building.

After completing the investigation, Detective Griffin referred the case to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office on July 19, 2024. On December 4, 2024, Detective Griffin swore to a four-count warrant for both property owners including the felony discharge of an injurious substance, operating a hazardous waste facility without a license, failing to keep the proper hazardous waste records, and failing to properly treat, store and dispose of Liquid Industrial By-Product (LIB). The two owners were arraigned on December 9, 2024. The felony Water Resources charge was reduced to a misdemeanor for attempt and the owners pled no-contest to the one-count of Part 31 Water Resources, the two counts of Part 111 Hazardous Waste Management, and the one count of Part 121 Liquid Industrial By-Products. On July 3, 2025, the owners entered guilty pleas in the 37th District court and were sentenced to pay fines and costs totaling $3,500. In addition, the suspects paid over $172,000 in remediation costs. Probation for both owners was requested but denied by the judge presiding over the case.