Vehicle in the Ditch Leads to an Arrest

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Office arrested a suspect after being dispatched to a vehicle in the ditch on M-22 north of M-109 in Empire Township on 12/27/13, at 0357hrs.

Upon arrival deputies located a 21 year old driver of a 2011 silver Jeep which had left the roadway and was stuck in the snowbank.  The driver showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol and after an investigation at the scene he was placed under arrest.

A roadside breath test showed the driver's blood alcohol to be .16% or twice the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle.  He was transported to the Leelanau County Jail and lodged for OWI.

2 men arrested for unpaid child support

A domestic dispute on the Grand Traverse Band reservation led to the arrest of two men on Friend of the Court bench warrants.

A 23 year-old Peshawbestown woman was locked out of her home at 6:00 am Tuesday by her boyfriend so she went to her father's home and Tribal Police were called to assist.  Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies were sent to backup the lone tribal officer.

During the course of the investigation, two men were arrested on the outstanding warrants.  Neither was the boyfriend who caused the original incident.  No arrests were made or charges sought for the relational disagreement.

Freddy Joseph Raphael, 47, of Peshawbestown, was wanted in Ingham County for unpaid child support.  He is being held on $2700 bond.  Leonardo S. Rodgriguez, 26, of Grand Rapids, was arrested for unpaid child support as well but was released on personal recognizance bond by Kent County.

Peshawbestown woman arrested for assaulting brother

A 29 year-old Suttons Bay Township woman was arrested Monday afternoon after her brother called GTB Tribal Police to report that he had been assaulted.  The man said he was punched in the arm, pushed down the stairs and his sister made threats to kill someone.  It was also reported that the suspect was breaking things in the home.

Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies assisted the lone GTB officer in arresting the suspect.  She was given a bond by Tribal Court and remains free pending further court action.

No blog until Monday

Unless there are major incidents worthy of reporting, there won't be a blog until December 30th due to time off for the first and second string blog masters.  Have a very Merry Christmas!

Winter weather keeps it quiet

The majority of the activity for Leelanau County deputies over the weekend was weather related.  Deputies investigated 6 motor vehicle crashes but thankfully there were no injuries.  There were also 11 reports of vehicles into the ditch not requiring reports.  3 snow plowing related complaints were also handled.

No arrests were made since Friday but deputies responded to 3 reports of family trouble, 8 false alarms, 3 car/deer accidents with one involving a patrol car.  There was a death investigation, the report of gunshots which was a citizen legally target shooting, a larceny of a license plate and officers assisted a disoriented senior citizen. 

Early Sunday morning deputies investigated an assault at a Leland Township restaurant which hospitalized a 37 year-old Suttons Bay man with facial injuries.  The suspect is a 25 year-old Leland Township man.  No arrests have been made and the case will be presented to the prosecutor's office when the investigation is complete.

Deputies help with toddler locked in vehicle

Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies called out with a vehicle that had pulled over to the side of the road on S Lake Leelanau Dr. near Fouch Road at 11:28 pm Thursday.  The 61 year-old Leland Township woman was adjusting a child in the backseat and did not need any assistance.  Deputies drove away since their assistance was not needed and the driver was safe.

At 12:15 am, the same woman called Leelanau Dispatch to report that she had arrived home on E. Lingaur Road and accidentally locked her 3 year-old passenger in the running car.  The child was not in danger.

The same deputies that made contact 45 minutes earlier arrived and were able to assist the woman by gaining entry into the vehicle so the toddler could be removed. 

Leland Township man arrested for domestic violence

Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies arrested a 43 year-old Lake Leelanau man after his girlfriend said he assaulted her.  Investigation revealed that the man was driving the 25 year-old victim from his house to her home.  He was cursing and berating her while accusing her of infidelity.  He pulled the car over on French Road just off of E. Duck Lake Road.  He ordered her out of the car and when she refused to exit, he punched her in the head.

The suspect exited the car and pulled the woman out of the car, continuing to strike her multiple times.  The victim was able to run to a nearby home and 911 was called.

The man denied assaulting the woman although it was evident to investigators that she had been assaulted.  She was treated by Leland EMS at the scene.  The man was arrested for Domestic Violence and remains jailed awaiting bond.

26 year-old SB man arrested for OWI

A car was discoved in the ditch and obscured from sight along busy S West Bay Shore Drive at 10:20 am Wednesday.  Leelanau County deputies arrived and determined that a crash had occurred when the vehicle left the roadway and hit three signs.

The owner was contacted and returned to the scene from his residence several miles from the crash scene just north of Lakeview Hills Road in Elmwood Township.  The man told deputies that he went off the road at 12:30 am while driving home.  He did not believe there was any damage or that he had to report the crash.

The man show signs of intoxication and denied drinking since the crash or to consuming enough before driving off the road to be considered drunk.  He was asked to perform field sobriety tasks and failed.  He was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated and taken to the Leelanau County jail.

A Datamaster result of .10% was obtained at 11:30 am.  He posted $100 interim bond pending an appearance Friday in District Court.

Benzonia woman picked up on bench warrant

Ashley N. Kennedy was arrested in Grand Traverse County Wednesday on a Leelanau County bench warrant.  Kennedy, 28, failed to appear for a collection hearing after a conviction on writing a No Account Check.  She is jailed in Leelanau County on a $943.02 bond, the amount owed on the court case.

2nd man charged in MC home invasion

A 23 year-old Kalkaska man is in custody for breaking into a Kasson Township home in February 2013.  After a lengthy investigation by the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office and the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office, Nicholas C. Perkins was arrested for 2nd Degree Home Invasion.

Perkins is the second man arrested for the daytime break in where a safe containing $1200 cash was stolen.  Taylor J. Yaster, 22, of Traverse City, has already pleaded guilty to Entry Without Breaking, a 5 year felony, in the case and was sentenced to 18 months to 5 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections.  He was originally charged with 2nd Degree Home Invasion.

The home invasion was not a random act as the suspects were acquainted with the homeowners son and were believed to have known about the safe.  They took the safe to a rural location in Grand Traverse County and broke into it.  None of the stolen money was recovered by law enforcement.

Perkins waived a preliminary examination last Friday and remains jailed in Grand Traverse County on unrelated charges.  2nd Degree Home Invasion carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in Prison. 

Yaster also pleaded guilty to Breaking and Entering with Intent to Commit a Felony for breaking into Pleva's Meats in Cedar in December 2012.  He has already served the 68 day sentence received.  Approximately $600 was stolen in the break in.

                                      Lake Leelanau man injured in afternoon crash

A 43 year-old Leland Township man sustained serious injuries when his vehicle left E Duck Lake Road and crashed Tuesday at 2:16 pm.  Jeffrey W. Gleason was taken to Munson Medical Center by Suttons Bay Rescue following the crash.

Motorists following Gleason told Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies that he was going too fast and was all over the road before crashing.  The vehicle was headed west and left the road just past Macksey Road, where it hit a snowbank, went airborne for 50 feet before hitting the ground and rolling over.  Gleason's dog had to be euthanized as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

The driver was restrained and alcohol is believed to have been a factor.  The crash remains under investigation.

Kewadin woman arrested on GTB warrant

41 year-old Arissa F. Shananaquet was arrested in Grand Traverse County Tuesday on a Grand Traverse Band Tribal Police bench warrant.  Shananaquet failed to appear involving 2 counts of Resisting and Opposing Police and Failure to Comply with Tribal Sex Offender Registration requirements.

Shananaquet was taken to the Leelanau County jail where she remains held on $1500 cash bond.

Maple City man arrested for OWI

A 50 year-old man was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated after going into the snowbank on E Traverse Highway near Bright Road in Kasson Township.  A passerby reported the incident at 8:41 pm and a Leelanau County Sheriff's deputy responded.

The lone occupant appeared intoxicated as soon as he exited his vehicle.  He failed field sobriety tasks and was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated.  His Datamaster blood alcohol result was .18%.

The suspect remains jailed pending a bond being set and District Court action.

Leelanau County jail count at 43

Thanks to 18 inmates being boarded for Grand Traverse County, the jail count is at 43 today.  Leelanau County receives $ 30 per day for each prisoner boarded for GT, meaning $540 additional revenue daily.  No extra staff is required to monitor the increased inmate population.

Drunk driver has probation revoked and is jailed

A 23 year-old Leland man on probation for Operating While Impaired and Failure to Report an Accident had his probation revoked as unsuccessful in District Court Friday.  Eric A. Larsen was sentenced to 15 days in jail and will still have to pay fines and costs assessed previously.

Larsen crashed his vehicle around 2:00am in May in Leland Township.  He left the scene without reporting the crash and went home.  Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies contacted him there at approximately 8:00 am and determined that he was intoxicated and said he hadn't consumed alcohol since the crash.

He was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated and Failing to Report a Crash and pleaded to reduced charges in District Court.

Leland woman arrested for stealing from senior citizen

A 59 year-old Leland Township woman appeared in court to surrender on a felony warrant recently.  Carolyn A. Flees was arraigned on Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult over $1000 but less than $20,000 charges.  It is a 5 year felony.

The victim's bank contacted Adult Protective Services and Leelanau County detectives in August 2012 with a concern that the 85 year-old's account was in the red and unusually large amounts of money had been removed.  Investigation revealed that Flees had been a part-time caregiver for the man for 7 years.  Although she was believed to have been embezzling from the victim for a longer period of time, she was only charged with accepting large amounts of money over a 2 1/2 year period until the issue came to attention of law enforcement in August 2012.

The investigation revealed that over $40,000 was embezzled from the victim from January 2010 until August 2012.  The suspect used the money to pay her own bills and the bills of other family members.  A sibling told investigators that Flees paid $7,000 in medical bills for her and mortgage payments over $8,000 were made by Flees for over a year.  

Because of the victim's mental state and recall capabilities, he is considered a Vulnerable Adult by Michigan statue.  It is not possible to determine from the victim whether the suspect asked for the money or accepted it after he offered to give it to her.  The law protects victims who are unable to make informed decisions regarding their finances and are at risk of being financially exploited.

Flees is scheduled for a preliminary examination of December 20 and remains free on bond. 

TC woman injured in Friday crash

70 year-old Krystyna Z. Jankowska of Traverse City was slightly injured in a single car crash Friday night.  It occurred at 10:30 pm on N West Bay Shore Drive at Dumas Road in Suttons Bay Township.

Leelanau County deputies reported that Jankowska was headed south when she was unable to negotiate a curve due to slippery road conditions and excessive speed.  Her vehicle slid across the road and struck a utility pole on the east side of the road.

She was transported to Munson Medical Center by Suttons Bay Rescue.  Alcohol was not a factor and no citation was issued in the crash.

TC driver goes into the ditch and then to jail for OWI

A 30 year-old man first drove into the snowbank on E Traverse Highway near Morgan Farms and then to jail for Operating While Intoxicated.  The incident occurred at 1:24 am Sunday morning. 

A motorist notified a Leelanau County Sheriff's deputy about the car in the ditch in Elmwood Township.  Upon contact, the driver said he had been in the ditch for 10 minutes and hadn't consumed alcohol during that time.

He showed signs of intoxication and failed field sobriety tasks.  After being arrested for OWI, the man had a .13% Datamaster result.  He was released after posting $100 interim bond pending a District Court appearance Friday.

Woman surrenders on Tribal dog license warrant

Jamie L. Barker-Teller, 38, of Suttons Bay, surrendered at the Leelanau County Jail early Saturday morning on a Grand Traverse Band Tribal Court bench warrant.  Barker-Teller failed to appear at a show cause hearing involving an original conviction of Failing to have a Valid Dog License for a pet.

The defendant was released after posting $100 bond.

Drivers still crashing on winter roads

Leelanau County Sheriff's Office policed 5 crashes and a car in the ditch Thursday.  There were no injuries in the accidents.

Two citations were issued to at fault drivers, one for a rear-end crash and the other for failing to yield while leaving a private drive.  A 16 year-old driver started his first winter season by going into a ditch and rolling over on the way home from school.

Motorists are reminded to slow down and understand that it takes extra time and distance to stop on snow covered roads.

 

Head-on crash hospitalizes both drivers

A Wednesday afternoon crash sent both drivers to Munson Medical Center.  The incident happened at 4:50 pm on W Burdickville Road just west of S Coleman Road in Kasson Township.  The roads were snowy with blowing snow present although it does not appear to have been a contributing factor in the crash.

19 year-old Dominic R. Crimi of Traverse City was westbound on Burdickville Road when his vehicle gradually crossed the center line and struck an eastbound vehicle driven by Jacqueline A. Gibler, 61, of Maple City.  There was airbag deployment in both vehicles and safety belts were worn by the drivers.

Both drivers were transported with serious injuries by Cedar Fire and Rescue, who were assisted by Glen Arbor Fire and Northflight.  The accident remains under investigation by Leelanau County accident investigators.  Alcohol and excessive speed do not appear to have been a causal factor.  

Internet issues prevent blog postings

Due to Charter internet issues at the County Building and Sheriff's Office, the blog was unable to be accessed on December 10 & 11.  We apologize for the situation and look forward to resuming normal blog activities later this morning.

Traverse City Man Escapes Serious Injury After an Accident Involving a Semi Tractor Trailer and Car

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Office investigated a Semi Tractor/Car accident this morning at the intersection of Fritz Road and West Burdickville Road.  The accident occurred at 0549hrs.

The investigation showed a 57yr old Traverse City man driving a 2008 Subaru northbound on Fritz Road failed to stop for the stop sign at West Burdickville Road.  The subaru crossed into the intersection and was struck broadside by a westbound Sysco semi tractor trailer being driven by a 54 yr old Traverse City man.  Medical services were dispatched also and check over the driver of the Subaru who declined transport to the hospital.

The driver of the Subaru vehicle was cited for failing to stop at the stop sign.  The roads were snow covered an slippery at the time of the accident.

Bingham Township Woman Arrested for Felonious Assault

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Officer arrested a suspect after an incident on Fort Road in Bingham Township.

Deputies were dispatched to residence in the 10000blk of Fort Road on a report of an assault.  Upon arrival deputies found a 50yr old male victim suffering from non-life threatening injuries.  An investigation showed the 50yr old male was living with the 53yr old female suspect.  The two individuals were somewhat intoxicated and became involved in an argument.  The female at one point picked up a wooden bed post and struck the male victim several times with the club about the head area injuring the male.

The female was taken into custody and after being transported to Munson Hospital to be checked over for medical reasons, she was lodged in the Leelanau County Jail on felonious assault charges.

Bingham Township woman charged with Driving Suspended for 7th time

A 33 year-old driver was arrested and charged with Driving Suspended, 3rd or subsequent offense Thursday.  Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies stopped the woman for defective equipment and no license plate on Bugai Road near W. Traverse Highway at 4:00 p.m.  The driver admitted that her license was suspended and a driver's license check confirmed that she had 6 prior DWLS convictions.

The woman was arrested and the car turned over to a relative with a valid license.  She is free after posting $100 interim bond.

Thief still on probation from 1997 case lodged

A 33 year-old Traverse City man was arrested in Grand Traverse County on a Leelanau County Contempt of Court warrant Monday.  The bench warrant was issued by 13th Circuit Court for Matthew J. Bullard.

Bullard was convicted in 1998 for breaking into Mancino's Grinders and Pizza in Greilickville in December 1997.  Bullard, 17 at the time, and 3 other 17 year-olds broke into the business and stole nearly $1900 cash.  Leelanau County investigators identified the men after Mancino's manager said one of the men had quit employment there the previous day.  Some of the 4 were involved in numerous other break-ins in Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties.

Bullard pleaded guilty to Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property over $100 in 1998 and has remained on probation since then because he was still paying off fines, costs and restitution.  Bullard had been making regular monthly payments but stopped doing so several months ago.  He remains lodged in the Leelanau County jail with a $1377.01 cash bond, the amount due to close out the case.

Tribal police arrest man on GT warrant

Grand Traverse Band Tribal Police arrested Elijah D. Shomin Tuesday.  Shomin, 18, of Peshawbestown, was wanted by Grand Traverse County for failing to appear for arraignment on an original charge of Use of a Controlled Substance.

Shomin was taken to the Leelanau County Jail where he was picked up by Grand Traverse deputies later in the day.

Drivers respecting slippery roads

Although Leelanau County roads have been snow covered and slippery recently, drivers appear to have slowed down and are using more caution.  If the lack of crashes are any indication, County drivers seem to have acclimated to winter driving very well.  There were no weather related crashes in the last 24 hours. 

A 2010 Toyota Prius did slide through the stop sign at the bottom of Benzonia Trail at Glenmere Road Monday evening but there was no vehicle damage.  The car ended up in the yard of the home which was damaged last year when a vehicle went through the stop sign, rolled over and crashed into the dining room.

Leelanau County deer aren't affected by the road conditions.  Three car/deer crashes were reported since Tuesday.

TC man set for trial in larceny case

The 36 year-old boyfriend of a house cleaner's daughter is set for trial in a check theft case.  Travis E. Rickerd has been arrested and charged with Larceny in a Building and being a Habitual Offender, 4th offense.  Rickerd is accused of stealing three checks from an Empire Township home in June.  He was there to clean the house with his girlfriend.  His girlfriend's mother had been hired by the homeowner to clean.

Leelanau County investigators determined that Rickerd wrote three of the victim's checks to himself for $400 each and cashed them at a Grawn gas station.  He later admitted to forging and passing the checks but denied stealing them from the residence.

Rickerd is also a suspect in the larceny of $1900 cash and a ring from his girlfriend's mother's house in Kasson Township.  The girlfriend found one of her mother's ring on the mantel of Rickerd's fireplace in June 2013.  When she confronted him about it, he said he found it in her mother's driveway.  He denied stealing $1900 that the woman had saved for a relative's funeral costs.  Rickerd has not been charged with stealing the ring or cash.

The defendant is being charged as a Habitual Offender, 4th offense, due to being convicted for 3 or more prior felonies.  A conviction would add up to 15 years to the underlying charge of Larceny in a Building if convicted of that.  He remains jailed pending a trial in February.

Cedar man arrested for High BAC and Child Endangerment

A 46 year-old Cedar man was arrested last week for Operating While Intoxicated while having a child in the vehicle.  The man rolled his vehicle over on Lakeshore Drive near Hohnke Road in Centerville Township Sunday.  Neither he nor his 14 year-old passenger were injured.  The Leelanau County Sheriff's Office investigated the crash which occurred at 3:10 pm.

The driver denied he had been drinking but showed signs of intoxication.  He was given field sobriety tasks and was then arrested.  His Datamaster breath test result was .18%. He was released on $1500 personal recognizance bond pending a District Court appearance.

Driver arrested for operating while suspended

A 33 year-old Traverse City man was arrested by Leelanau County deputies for driving suspended Sunday.  The driver crashed into a row of mailboxes after attempting to pass a county snow plow on S. Lake Leelanau Drive north of Bingham Road at 3:13pm.  A license check showed his privileges had been suspended by the Secretary of State.  He was arrested and released after posting $100 interim bond.

Crime spree of car thefts and larcenies being investigated

Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies are trying to sort out a crime spree which they believe began Sunday evening.  Tribal police received a call from a home on Grand Traverse Band tribal land in Suttons Bay Township at 8:01 pm.  The caller reported 2 suspicious men entering cars and homes without permission.  Tribal police and Leelanau County deputies were unable to locate the suspects.

At 8:28 pm. a car was reported stolen on N West Bay Shore Drive in Southern Leelanau Township.  The owner said his 2005 Ford Explorer was parked in his driveway with the keys between the seats.

While a sergeant was taking the stolen vehicle report, a deputy located two vehicles parked along S West Bay Shore Drive near Fourth St in Suttons Bay.  One vehicle matched the stolen car description.  As contact was made with the vehicles, one person fled from each vehicle and one remained in the car that was not stolen.  A 15 year-old juvenile from Mt. Pleasant remained at the scene and identified on of the fleeing men as the one who stole the vehicle earlier.

Another deputy located a 22 year-old Mt. Pleasant man walking behind the Inland Seas building.  After making contact with the man, it was determined that he had run from the stolen car.  He remains jailed on car theft charges pending a bond being set.

Police were unable to locate the other man who's vehicle was the other one at the S West Bay Shore/ Fourth St. scene.  Both vehicles were towed from the scene and numerous items of property believed stolen from cars and homes in Peshawbestown and Omena were observed inside.  A search warrant will be sought to search the vehicle and identify any stolen property.

At 11:05 pm a resident of S West Bay Shore Drive called to report that someone was trying to steal his vehicle.  This was approximately 1 mile south of the previous contact with the other stolen vehicle.  The caller said he scared the thief off but not before the man attempted to back out of the driveway and crashed into a tree.

Another car was reported stolen at 12:10 am .2 miles south on S. West Bay Shore Drive.  It was believed to have been taken by the man who fled police earlier in the evening.  The keys were in the center console of the Ford Explorer.

The Explorer was reported abandoned near Barryton in Mecosta County at 8:45 am Monday.  Sheriff's deputies there said another vehicle was stolen near the site of where the car stolen from Suttons Bay was found.  Both vehicles will be returned to their owners and damage estimates are pending.  Law enforcement across Michigan continues to search for the 19 year-old Mt. Pleasant suspect.

Citizens who had items stolen from their homes or vehicles should call either the Grand Traverse Band tribal police or Leelanau dispatch at 231-256-8800.