7/19/2026-8/1/2026

 District 1 counties of service: Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon.

CO Steve Sajtar assisted local law enforcement agencies with a fatal ORV crash in Menominee Township. Upon arriving on the scene alongside county deputies and Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers, responders discovered that one occupant had been ejected from the vehicle and died. A second occupant survived the accident and was transported to Bay Area Medical Center to receive medical treatment. 

CO Steve Sajtar assisted the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office and MSP troopers with executing a search warrant at the residence of an attempted homicide suspect. The warrant was obtained after the homeowner allegedly fired a weapon at a neighbor who was mowing their lawn. Because of prior violent felony convictions, the homeowner was legally prohibited from possessing firearms. A search of the residence uncovered multiple firearms, ammunition, and controlled substances, resulting in the suspect's arrest and booking into the Menominee County Jail on several felony charges.

CO Olivia Haerr observed a personal watercraft (PWC) pulling multiple children on an inflatable tube without a required legal observer on board. CO Haerr contacted the operator and issued a citation for towing a tube without an observer.

District 2 counties of service: Alger, Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce, Schoolcraft.

COs Alex French, Scott Pankow, Corporal (Cpl.) Cole VanOosten, and Sergeant (Sgt.) Calvin Smith responded to a complaint regarding a 9-year-old and an 11-year-old who went missing while fishing with their family. Investigations revealed the children had been lost for well over four hours before a local couple found them. The couple brought the children to their cabin, contacted law enforcement, and safely reunited the youth with their family.

Sgt. Calvin Smith assisted the Bay Mills Police Department with an individual who fell off a horse while riding in a remote area of Chippewa County. The rider suffered a possible broken leg during the fall, and the officers assisted medical personnel into the area and with transportation to the waiting ambulance.

Sgt. Robert Freeborn responded to a report of a subject sending emergency SOS signals from a cell phone in a remote section of the Big Island Wilderness. Dispatch tracked the signal's location to a nearby trout lake. Sergeant Freeborn located the subject's truck and eventually found the individual fishing with his grandson. It was discovered that the subject had accidentally dropped his cell phone into the lake, causing the water-damaged device to automatically broadcast emergency alerts without the owner's knowledge.

District 3 counties of service: Alpena, Antrim, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego, Presque Isle.

CO Adam LeClerc responded to assist in the search for a missing 92-year-old individual who had wandered away from his all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and became lost in a dense wooded area. Drawing upon his extensive geographical knowledge of the terrain and utilizing local homeowner contacts established during previous investigations, CO LeClerc quickly focused the search efforts. His targeted approach led to the successful discovery of the missing subject on a neighboring property. The individual was found in good condition.

During a marine patrol on Little Traverse Bay, CO Duane Budreau escorted a swimming bald eagle 1.5 miles to safety after the waterlogged bird proved too large to bring aboard. Budreau gently herded the eagle toward the shoreline while coordinating with a raptor rehabilitation center for a land recovery. Upon reaching the beach, the rehabilitation team safely captured the exhausted bird. A medical evaluation confirmed the eagle was in excellent health despite its long swim, allowing for its successful release back into the wild later that same day.

An Otsego County suspect was sentenced to 10 months in jail and two years of probation after pleading guilty to malicious destruction of police property and assaulting a police officer. The sentence stems from a January incident where the suspect fled a traffic stop, led CO Tom Oberg down a snowy power line, and rammed Oberg's patrol vehicle before his own car caught fire. After resisting arrest, the suspect fled on foot into a nearby home, where law enforcement surrounded the perimeter and eventually negotiated his peaceful surrender and arrest.

COs Dan Liestenfeltz, Sidney LaLonde, Jon Sheppard, and Kevin Bunce organized a successful search operation for a missing ORV operator in northern Montmorency County. The operator had become separated from his group, ran out of gas, and got lost while walking. Local search crews safely located the individual a few hours later.

District 4 counties of service: Benzie, Grand Traverse, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana, Wexford.

CO Brandon Benedict was patrolling Oceana County when he observed a vehicle driving left of center multiple times, turning right twice into the wrong lane of travel, and continuously speeding up and slowing down. A traffic stop was conducted, and CO Benedict observed signs of impairment from the driver. Additionally, there was an open container of alcohol in a cup holder near the operator. Following an investigation for operating while intoxicated (OWI), the driver was arrested and lodged in the Oceana County Jail. 

CO Jacob Robinson was patrolling in Grand Traverse County when he received a complaint from central dispatch about people shooting firearms recklessly on state land, causing shot to rain down on individuals recreating on Lake Dubonnet. CO Robinson patrolled to the location and found the subjects still shooting firearms. He witnessed the individuals shooting clay targets that were perched on the side of a tree with no safe backstop, firing directly toward a nearby campground. CO Robinson addressed the immediate safety hazards and issued a citation for the firearm violations.

District 5 counties of service: Alcona, Arenac, Clare, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Roscommon.

CO Casey Pullum clocked a side-by-side with his department issued radar unit, traveling 58 mph in a 20-mph zone while patrolling for ORV traffic in the Luzerne area. Upon conducting a traffic stop, CO Pullum noticed the driver had slurred speech and possessed only a state identification card. The driver admitted his license was suspended due to multiple prior driving-under-the-influence violations and acknowledged consuming alcohol that night. After the driver exhibited signs of impairment during standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs), CO Pullum arrested him for OWI. Following his arrest, the driver consented to a preliminary breath test (PBT), which registered a .09 blood alcohol content. The suspect was lodged at the Oscoda County Sheriff's Office on a $100,000 cash surety bond for third offense operating while intoxicated, second offense driving while license suspended, and operating an ORV at an unreasonable speed.

While patrolling Cooke Dam Pond as part of a scheduled Au Sable River Canoe Marathon shift, COs Jeff Panich and Nico Luna responded to a medical call for a canoer who had made it to the Cooke Dam and had collapsed with heat exhaustion. The individual was extremely dehydrated, confused and weak. The COs were able to locate the individual and relay all pertinent information to Iosco County Central Dispatch to get EMS in the right location with an accurate rundown of the individual’s vital information with the help of several bystanders.

CO Alex Bourgeois and Sgt. Paul Fox were patrolling Belle Isle when they observed a group of Dodge Chargers parked along a no parking zone. CO Bourgeois advised the group, over his speaker, to move. The group of vehicles then proceeded to drive through the next intersection, completely running a stop sign. One of the vehicles then decided to squeal their tires and kick the rear end of their vehicle sideways. The COs initiated a traffic stop on the driver. The driver advised that he had just gotten his vehicle back from the impound lot for similar driving violations. The subject then proceeded to show CO Bourgeois all his recent traffic tickets. The subject also stated that back in 2021 he hit a person with his car on Belle Isle due to his careless driving. A ticket was issued.

CO Alex Bourgeois and Sgt. Paul Fox were closing the island during the end of their Belle Isle shift. Just south of the beach parking lot, they observed a parked vehicle with a subject sleeping in the driver's seat. Upon contact with the driver, CO Bourgeois observed a handgun tucked in the subject’s waist band. The subject advised that they did not have a concealed pistol license. The subject was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, the handgun was seized, and the vehicle was impounded.

District 6 counties of service: Bay, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola.

COs Dan Robinson, Michael Lator, and Zach Cardinal taught boater’s safety to the Mt. Pleasant Youth Academy students. This is the 10th year that CO Robinson has participated in this course. In the class were 25 cadets, and all passed. The course included time on the water learning how to operate various boats on a local lake. The cadets were presented with their boater’s safety certificates at graduation.

CO Adam Schiller and Sgt. Paul Fox were patrolling Belle Isle when a call came over the radio regarding a stolen vehicle being on the island. A private repossession company called in the vehicle. MSP troopers were closing in on the vehicle, and CO Alex Bourgeois and his partner located the suspected vehicle occupants. CO Schiller and Sgt. Fox arrived and helped secure the area as the other units investigated the scene. The occupants were ultimately arrested and the vehicle was impounded.

District 7 counties of service: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, St Joseph, Van Buren.

Nothing to report

District 8 counties of service: Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Shiawassee.

CO Jason McCullough completed the investigation into the illegal dumping/scuttling of the vessel named the “Baby Doll” in a local river. After retrieving a piece of identifying information from the trash in the boat, CO McCullough, along with Lt. Rich Nickols, were able to contact some residents at an address. As luck would have it, the residents had a home security camera picture of the vessel parked in the neighbor’s yard. Subsequent contact and interview with the neighbor revealed the boat was dumped to clean up the enormous amount of trash and debris around the residence. CO McCullough explained the importance of not polluting the waterways of Calhoun County, with a special emphasis on the aquatic invasive species that could have been present in the vessel. Charges are being sought through the local court of jurisdiction. The boat was removed from the river by the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office Dive and Recovery team and towed from the scene. Reimbursement will be sought for the removal of the vessel and associated clean-up process.

CO Cullen Knoblauch checked a group of anglers on Vineyard Lake who were excited to tell CO Knoblauch that they caught 28 bluegills and crappies. CO Knoblauch allowed the group to pull their boat up to the launch and load it up. CO Knoblauch counted the number of panfish and noticed under the pile of panfish was two undersized bass. CO Knoblauch asked the angler if they measured the bass and they said no. CO Knoblauch had the angler measure the bass and one was 12 inches and the other was 13 inches. CO Knoblauch issued one of the anglers for possessing undersized bass.

District 9 counties of service: Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair.

Acting Sergeant Justin Muehlhauser responded to call in Grand Blanc Township of a neighbor who shot a goose out of season. The CO arrived and spoke to witnesses who saw a group of geese in their backyard and heard several shots. One goose was shot and died. CO Muehlhauser interviewed the neighbor who stated that he was just trying to scare them away. The man explained that the geese have been a nuisance and he can’t get them to go away. He stated that he had been harassing them for years. The CO explained that when you use a firearm to harass geese, you run the risk of causing injury or death. Charges are being sought for taking waterfowl out of season.

CO Sydney Griffor was patrolling towards Harley Ensign Boating Access Site when she received a call from CO Brad Silorey that there just was a boat explosion with individuals in the water at a nearby marina. CO Griffor responded to the scene several minutes later and all individuals were out of the water upon arrival. CO Griffor assisted Harrison Township Fire and Paramedics with treating the victims involved, who were eventually transported by EMS to a local hospital.

COs Sydney Griffor and Les Bleil were patrolling Belle Isle Park and responded to a vehicle crash involving two vehicles. One vehicle struck another occupied parked motor vehicle and continued driving before coming to a stop. CO Bleil was first on scene and informed CO Griffor that when he was speaking with the female driver of one of the vehicles, she admitted to drinking prior, there were open intoxicants inside the vehicle, and the driver continued to tell COs that she took full responsibility of the crash. The at fault driver was very animated, had slurred speech, and showed signs of intoxication. The driver also did not possess a valid driver’s license; the vehicle was unregistered and did not have insurance. CO Griffor conducted field sobriety tests and the driver continued to show signs of intoxication. A PBT showed the driver to be three times over the legal limit of .08 BAC. The vehicle was impounded and a chemical breath test with the Intoxilyzer was completed and had results three times over the legal limit. The driver was arrested and lodged on charges of operating while intoxicated, driving while license suspended/revoked, operating an unregistered vehicle, no insurance, and open intoxicants in a motor vehicle.

District 10 counties of service: Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne.

COs Ariel Young and Brandon Vacek were on marine patrol in the Detroit River when they observed a PWC operating along the river. The PWC was operated by an individual and their child initially catching the attention of the COs because of a strangely short trip they took. The COs later recognized the same PWC being operated by two different individuals and it was subsequently stopped for operating too close to the patrol boat at speed greater than slow no wake. Upon talking with the individuals, it was determined that the PWC had been rented out by a business in Detroit. The COs left the operators with a warning and went about their patrol. The COs saw the PWC for a third time being operated by the first two individuals. The COs and the operator made voluntary contact and tried to determine what was going on with the PWC. The driver stated that the PWC was theirs and that they had loaned it to a friend earlier. The COs knew this to not be the case and followed the owner back to the boat launch for an interview. Upon interviewing the individual, it was determined that they were operating an uninspected livery. A report and charges will be sought through the prosecutor's office.

COs Andrew Werth and Joel Hill conducted a fisheries patrol at DTE Hot Ponds. Many anglers were having little to no luck on fish, but a group of anglers were leaving the property when the COs contacted them to see how the bite was. The one angler from the family said that all their fish were in the cooler. CO Werth dumped all the fish out to verify limit requirements and size requirements. CO Werth asked the angler who caught all the fish and to see fishing licenses. The angler said that he caught every fish in the cooler and that he was the only one with a valid fishing license. Both COs counted the fish and there were 27 channel catfish so that would make the angler 17 over his legal limit. The COs seized 17 fish and issued a citation to the angler for taking and possessing an over-limit of channel catfish.

CO Andrew Werth was working an evening Belle Isle shift when he observed an expired license plate on a moving vehicle. The CO conducted a stop on the vehicle and the odor of intoxicants radiated from the vehicle as soon as the operator rolled down the window. The operator also admitted that there was beer located in the cup in the center console. The CO administered SFSTs and FSTs on the driver and administered a PBT where the operator blew over the legal limit. The operator was cited for an expired license plate and for the open intoxicants and was taken into custody for OWI and lodged without incident.