Corrections officer pleads guilty to OWI

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Office corrections officer arrested Wednesday night pleaded guilty as charged Friday.  Jeffrey D. Kassab pleaded guilty in 86th District Court to Operating While Intoxicated with a High Blood Alcohol Content >.17%. 

Kassab was arrested Wednesday night when he arrived for work at approximately 7:30 pm and was intoxicated. He was interviewed by a road patrol sergeant and subsequently arrested for OWI.  His Datamaster breath test results were .24% and .25%.

Kassab remains free on bond until his sentencing December 20.  The internal investigation by the Sheriff's Office will continue.

Traffic violation results in high speed chase and assault to officer

A Leelanau County Sheriff's Sergeant attempted to stop a motorcycle for loud exhaust and no registration plate in Cedar early Friday morning.  The incident occurred at 2:26 am in Solon Township.  The motorcyclist refused to pull over and accelerated to speeds over 115 miles per hour as he attempted to flee north on Good Harbor Trail.  The chase covered approximately 6 miles of mostly straight roadway before the suspect lost control on a sharp curve just south of S Manitou Trail in Centerville Township.

The 18 year-old Cedar resident was not wearing a helmet and was thrown from the motorcycle.  Surprisingly he ran from the crash scene through some trees with the sergeant pursuing him.  The suspect entered an unlocked garage through the service entry door.  He locked the door behind him and threw items in the path of the pursuing officer who was forced to kick in the door in an attempt to apprehend the driver. 

The suspect ran out the back door of the garage and the sergeant caught up to him.  The officer attempted to handcuff the man while the suspect was laying on his stomach.  The man resisted the attempt to control him after one cuff was put on.  The Sergeant disengaged and aimed his Taser at him, continuing to order him to comply and stop resisting.

The suspect began to get up and was Tasered.  The probes did not make solid contact due to the man's heavy winter coat and he was not affected.  A struggle ensued and the officer was struck several time in the head by the swinging handcuff which was on the suspect's wrist.  The suspect was pepper sprayed and ran off again.

The sergeant caught the suspect again and ordered him at gunpoint to lay on the ground as he began to charge the officer a second time.  The man complied and was taken into custody without further resistance when another deputy arrived several minutes later.

Both men were treated and released at Munson Medical Center.  The sergeant received contusions and lacerations to the face and head and the suspect was treated for abrasions from the crash.

The suspect is being held in the Leelanau County jail awaiting a bond.  Requested charged will include Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, 3rd Degree Fleeing and Eluding, Illegal Entry and Resisting and Opposing a Police Officer.  The motorcycle was a total loss.



The final resting place of the fleeing motorcycle



Not just another car deer accident

Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies policed an out-of-the-ordinary car/deer crash Thursday.  A northbound vehicle driven by a 19 year-old Cedar man struck a deer on S Cedar Road near E Popa Road at 8:40 pm.  There was certainly nothing odd about that.  After being struck, the deer flew through the air and struck a southbound vehicle driven by a 37 year-old Traverse City woman that was passing by the first car. 

The deer was pronounced dead at the scene after it was struck by the first vehicle, thrown onto the hood of the second vehicle and landed on the shoulder of the road.  Neither driver was injured.

 

Three warrant arrests made Thursday

Three suspects were taken into custody Thursday in Leelanau County.  Grand Traverse Band Tribal police arrested 31 year-old Margaret A. Urrutia of Traverse City on a Grand Traverse County bench warrant.  She was taken to the Leelanau County jail where she was picked up by Grand Traverse County deputies.

Paul T. Petoskey, 33, of Lake Leelanau surrendered on a Department of Corrections parole detainer.  He will be held until notice to release is received from MDOC.

Brian T. Kulanda, 47, was arrested at his Cleveland Township home by Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies on a Friend of the Court bench warrant.  Kulanda failed to appear at a contempt of court hearing earlier in the day.  After being booked into the Leelanau County jail he was released after posting $1,235 bond.

Cedar woman cited for suspended driving

A 45 year-old Cedar woman was issued a Driving While License Suspended citation after being stopped for having an expired registration plate.  The stop occurred on S Cedar Road near Kasben Road in Solon Township at 11:01 pm Thursday. 

Because it was a first offense, no arrest was made and the driver was ordered to contact the court about the matter.