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

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

April 3-16

MONTMORENCY COUNTY

CO Sidney Collins was able to assist Skegemog Raptor Center with the release of a bald eagle. CO Collins was called to a vehicle accident back in October of 2021 after a vehicle hit the eagle. CO Collins found the bird on the side of the road, stunned. CO Collins realized the eagle could no longer take flight, so she chased it through the woods, wrapped it up in a blanket, and brought it to a rehabilitator. The eagle was determined to be blind in the left eye after the accident. The eagle was housed at the Skegemog Raptor Center rehabilitating for six months. The professional bird handlers worked with the eagle to get her flying and strong again, though worried she would not survive without the use of her eye. The six-year-old female eagle proved she was ready to be in the wild again. CO Collins was able to release the eagle back to Montmorency County.

CO Dan Liestenfeltz was patrolling in Montmorency County when he observed three quads operating on the shoulder of M 33 at a high rate of speed. CO Liestenfeltz then observed the quads turn down a back road, operating from shoulder-to-shoulder, still at a high rate of speed. CO Liestenfeltz stopped the quads and after speaking with the operators, CO Liestenfeltz observed signs of intoxication in one of them. The subject was arrested after failing standard field sobriety tests (SFST’s) and the PBT. The subject was lodged for OWI. The second operator had a warrant that he posted bond for and was released.

ALPENA COUNTY

CO Jon Sheppard heard a complaint from Alpena Central Dispatch of a rollover car crash near the city of Alpena. All four occupants of the vehicle had run away from the crash. Three of the occupants were located at a nearby park and one had still not been located. Several minutes later, there was a report of the fourth suspect walking nearby. CO Sheppard checked the area and observed a person matching the description flag down a car. The car pulled into a parking lot and the suspect entered the passenger side of the vehicle. CO Sheppard initiated a traffic stop. Upon seeing the suspect, CO Sheppard noticed that the suspect appeared to be injured. CO Sheppard called for emergency medical services (EMS) to respond and secured the suspect until he could be checked out by medical personnel. The suspect was taken to the Alpena Hospital and was turned over to MSP troopers.

PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY

CO Paul Fox was on patrol near Millersburg when a call came out from local dispatch regarding a grass fire. CO Fox arrived on scene after local fire units secured the area. CO Fox, along with DNR fire personnel, investigated the scene and determined the sequence of events and starting point of the fire. The responsible property owner was contacted. The subject was burning a brush pile and let the fire go unattended for several minutes. When he returned, the fire had escaped into the grass. Fortunately, the fire stayed in a small area and the property owner was able to extinguish the fire. In addition to failing to prevent the spread of a fire, the subject was also burning unlawful material. The subject was educated on burning laws and issued a ticket.