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POLICE BLOTTER: Conservation officers respond to illegal elk kills, stop drunk driver

Recent actions by law enforcement agencies in Northeast Michigan. This has been only lightly edited.

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Sept. 19-Oct. 2

MONTMORENCY COUNTY

CO Sidney Collins followed up with detectives from a double bull elk case from 2018 in Montmorency County. New leads have been developed and the investigation is ongoing.

CO Sidney Collins checked in a cow elk for a successful hunter in Montmorency County. CO Collins hiked into the kill site and was excited to see that it was a successful, elderly hunter. CO Collins met the hunter earlier in the season and learned that he had been struggling with Parkinson’s Disease. The hunter was so determined, he walked back with his walking sticks through rough terrain and several steep hills. The hunter pushed himself past limits, beyond what he thought he could do. CO Collins then assisted the hunter and his wife out of the woods, moving brush and other obstacles out of the way for the hunter to make it safely out.

CO Jessie Curtis assisted Montmorency County Sheriff’s Deputies with a domestic violence and assault complaint. The female suspect was lodged without incident for two domestic violence charges.

While patrolling Montmorency County, CO Jon Sheppard was dispatched to an elk hunter who had killed an elk outside the legal area. CO Sheppard seized the elk for evidence and the meat was donated. Charges are being sought through the Montmorency County Prosecutor’s Office.

COs Dan Liestenfeltz and Jessie Curtis were patrolling in Montmorency County when CO Liestenfeltz observed a vehicle cross the centerline of the roadway. CO Liestenfeltz initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and when the driver was contacted it was immediately apparent that the driver had been consuming alcohol. There were also two young juveniles in the vehicle as well. CO Liestenfeltz asked the driver if there were any open containers of alcohol in the vehicle. At this time the driver leaned inside the vehicle to tell the young juvenile in the front seat to give CO Liestenfeltz the alcohol. CO Liestenfeltz then asked the juvenile if the subject had given the alcohol to them to hide when they were getting pulled over and the juvenile replied, “Yes.” The driver failed SFSTs and was found to be nearly triple the legal limit when a PBT was taken. CO Liestenfeltz placed the subject into custody and later lodged. The juveniles were transported back to their residence and turned over to a parent. The subject was charged with OWI high blood alcohol content, OWI, child endangerment, driving on a suspended license, and open intoxicants in a motor vehicle. The subject also had a statewide warrant out of Oakland County which he was picked up on.

ALPENA COUNTY

CO Jon Sheppard attended a Lion’s Club meeting in Alpena. CO Sheppard answered questions from the group about hunting and fishing laws and conservation officer’s roles.

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