Full Notification

Hit and Run Suspect Apprehended
 
     Sheriff Richard J. Behnke reports that his Deputies were investigating a Hit and Run incident that occurred on Barron Lake Rd near Cook St in Howard Township on 7/22/21 at 2012 hrs. A vehicle driven by Jeffrey Vankirk, 50 yrs. old from Niles, was North bound on Barron Lake Rd with passenger Linda True, 52 yrs. old from Niles. A vehicle Driven by the suspect spotted the Vankirk vehicle and tried to ram it. The suspect then sped up along the side the Vankirk vehicle side swiping the vehicle and then leaving the scene. While the Deputies were responding to the scene, they spotted the suspect vehicle and tried to pull it over. The suspect then fled from the Deputies in his vehicle and was able to ditch the vehicle on a side street where he fled on foot. K 9 Faust was deployed on a half a mile track in the woods and was able to find the suspect hiding in a child’s tree fort. The victims were wearing their safety belts and were uninjured. Alcohol was a factor in the crash and the suspects name is being withheld pending arraignment in 4^th District Court. The Pokagon Tribal Police assisted the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. The case remains open at this time and anyone with information about this Incident is encourage to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 269-445-8644.