Golf car crashes send 2 to hospital

Two teens were hospitalized with serious injuries following a crash at 6:40 pm Thursday.  The incident happened on Amore Road west of Popp Rd. in Centerville Township.  Chandler M. Grier, 17, Linwood was driving an EZ-Go golf car westbound down a hill on Amore Road.  He was going too fast and lost control on a curve on the gravel road.

Leelanau County deputies investigating the crash said his two passengers were ejected from the vehicle.  Collin J. Grier, 15, Linwood, and Benjamin P. Rhodes, 14, Traverse City, were both transported to Munson Medical Center by Cedar Rescue.  Safety belts were not available for any of the teens.  Excessive speed was the cause of the crash but no citation was issued.  Alcohol was not a factor.

Man arrested after confessing to setting his car on fire

A 28 year-old Suttons Bay Township man is in jail on arson charges after confessing to a Leelanau County Sheriff's detective that he set his car on fire.  Smoke was reported by neighbors on E. Duck Lake Road at 7:41 am Friday.  Suttons Bay/Bingham, Leland and Leelanau Township fire departments responded and discovered a car that was ablaze and flames that had spread to a home the vehicle was parked next to.

No one was injured in the blaze.  The vehicle was a total loss and damage to the house was minimized by the quick and efficient response by the fire departments.

The homeowner could not be located at the home but was found walking on E Duck Lake Road near Horn Road a short time later.  He told investigators that he was walking to the Sheriff's Office to report that he had started the fire.  He later told the detective that he started the car on fire because "things weren't going as planned" and intended for the blaze to burn his house down as well.  The vehicle was parked adjacent to the house.

The man remains jailed on Arson of Personal Property over $1000 charges pending an appearance before the magistrate.  The maximum penalty if convicted is 5 years in prison.

OWI probationer jailed for substance abuse

Charles J. Sienkwicz, Leland, was jailed Thursday for 3 days on a probation violation.  He is accused of using drugs or alcohol which are prohibited by the terms of his probation.  Sienkwicz, 43, was convicted of Operating While Intoxicated 3rd Offense which resulted in the term of supervision.

Elmwood Township woman appears on U&P charge

Amber D. Oien, 39, is lodged in the Leelanau County jail on a bench warrant for failing to appear on an Uttering and Publishing charge.  She is charged with cashing stolen checks that with two other women.  The checks were stolen from a Suttons Bay Township home and two of the checks cashed at a financial institution in Traverse City.  

Oien remains jailed without bond pending a court appearance.  Uttering and Publishing is a felony punishable by maximum 14 years in prison.