Troopers from the Michigan State Police Lakeview Post have arrested a 29-year-old Coral man for causing a crash that costed another man his life last summer.

The crash occurred on July 4, 2017 on Kendaville Rd, west of Bailey Rd, in Maple Valley Township. Police investigation showed that Guy Petherbridge, 61, also of Coral, had stopped his vehicle on the road after striking a deer. The car he was driving was then struck by an eastbound Ford truck traveling at a high rate of speed, which was driven by the 29-year-old man. The impact caused the car to split in half and catch fire. Petherbridge suffered fatal injuries from the crash. The driver of the Ford truck suffered minor injuries. 

The Montcalm County Prosecutor’s office authorized a warrant for Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death and Reckless Driving Causing Death. The subject was arrested at his home in Coral and lodged at the Montcalm County Jail without incident. His name has not yet been released.

Antoon Defrens

A man suspected of committing four armed robberies in three counties during the month of December was arrested last week by police.

According to F/Lt. Kevin Sweeney, the Michigan State Police Lakeview Post has been investigating a series of armed robberies in Montcalm and Ionia Counties over the last few weeks. Investigations by detectives led to the arrest of the suspect in the early morning hours of December 22, after a short vehicle pursuit.

Antoon Defrens, 41, of Sheridan, was arrested and lodged in the Montcalm County jail. He is suspected of robbng the Belding Party Store in Ionia County on Saturday, December 9; the Sheridan Marathon Gas Station in Montcalm County on December 12; the Gowen General Store in Montcalm County on December 16; and the Rockford Marathon Gas Station in Kent County on Thursday, December 21.

Defrens is charged with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of fleeing and eluding for the robberies in Montcalm County. Charges in the third and fourth robberies, in Ionia and Kent Counties, are still pending.

Nicholas John-Alexander Wilson

A 20-year-old Blanchard man was arrested Tuesday, July 25, for break-ins that occurred on February 8 in Lakeview and Howard City.

According to the Montcalm County Sheriff Department, both the Sheriff’s Office and Lakeview Police Department worked in conjunction while investigating the two related break-ins, which led to the arrest of the suspect responsible.

On February 8, 2017, the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a break-in at a business in the 800 block of West Shaw Street in Howard City. Later that morning, the Lakeview Police Department began an investigation of a break-in at a related business in the 9000 block of North Greenville Road. The investigation continued with both agencies working together. After several interviews and an analysis of evidence, a suspect was developed and eventually arrested. 

On July 25, 2017, Nicholas John-Alexander Wilson, 20, of Blanchard, was arrested in connection with the thefts. Wilson is currently housed in the Montcalm County Jail on one count of Breaking and Entering. Wilson’s next court date is scheduled for August 8, 2017.

Christa Ann Knox

A Newaygo woman that got into a fight with a passenger in her vehicle has been arrested on several charges.

According to the Montcalm County Sheriff Department, deputies were alerted to a possible drunk driver within Reynolds Township, on June 8, about 10:52 p.m. The report indicated a burgundy minivan was being driven in an erratic manner. Before the vehicle could be located by officers, an additional report was received advising the vehicle was stopped near the intersection of Gates and Dagget Roads and there was a woman lying on the road near the vehicle. Upon arrival, the deputy determined that there had not been a vehicle crash at that location, but several other law violations were discovered.

Through the investigation, it was determined that the driver, Christa Ann Knox, 36, of Newaygo, had been travelling westbound on Gates Road when she suddenly stopped her vehicle. Knox then engaged in some type of altercation with a 51-year old Newaygo woman who was a passenger in the vehicle. The 51-year-old woman was found lying in the roadway. She was transported to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids for treatment and it was determined she sustained no serious injuries.

The deputy determined that Knox was intoxicated, was not a valid driver, had her young child in the vehicle, had previous driving related convictions, and had several warrants out for her arrest. Knox was arrested and transported to the Montcalm County Jail where she was lodged.

After review, the prosecutor’s office authorized a warrant charging Knox with Operating While Impaired, third offense; driving on a suspended license, second offense; and domestic violence, second offense. Knox is currently being held at the jail with a $7,000.00 bond for those charges.

The Montcalm County Emergency Medical Services and the Michigan State Police assisted at the scene.

Craig Alan Albright

Investigation involves the exploitation of minor children 

The Michigan State Police (MSP) Computer Crimes Unit, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, conducted an investigation that led to the arrest of 55-year-old Craig Alan Albright, of Greenville.

Albright was investigated after the MSP ICAC received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). On Dec. 8, 2016, a search warrant was executed at Albright’s home. Evidence was recovered that connected Albright with child sexually abusive activity and material at his home.

An arrest warrant was obtained and Albright turned himself into the Montcalm County Jail on Jan. 9, 2017.

Albright has been arraigned on the charges issued by the Montcalm County Prosecutor’s Office. They include Child Sexually Abusive Activity, Child Sexually Abusive Material (Possession) and Using a Computer to Commit a Crime.

A Gowen man was arrested Monday, November 21, after he stabbed a male victim several times with a knife.

Michigan State Police from the Lakeview Post responded to the call on Colby Road, Evergreen Township, Montcalm County, at approximately 2:20 a.m. They said that a 19-year old male suspect from Gowen confronted an 18-year-old male victim with a knife at the residence and stabbed him several times.

The suspect was subdued at the scene by the victim’s family members until police arrived on scene and took him into custody.  The victim was transported to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids for his injuries.

The suspect was lodged in the Montcalm County Jail pending arraignment on charges of Assault with Intent to Murder, Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm Less Than Murder, and Home Invasion 1^st Degree.

The names are being withheld pending formal charges and arraignment.

Devin Sebastian Tumbleson

A Crystal Township woman is in critical condition after a man she was riding with strangled her and pushed her from the vehicle.

According to the Montcalm County Sheriff Office, on Monday, May 23, two people were traveling on Berridge Road, in Eureka Township, south of Fenwick Road, looking for morel mushrooms, about 7:16 p.m., when they heard someone calling for help.

The two found a 19-year-old woman from Crystal, and she was badly injured, so the two took her to Spectrum United Memorial Hospital in Greenville for treatment. Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office responded to United Memorial regarding the assault victim. The Crystal woman told the deputy that she was traveling with a man in his car and that a disagreement arose between the two. The woman reported that the man became irate and assaulted her, including strangling her and pushing her out of his vehicle.

The victim was later flown from United Memorial to Spectrum Butterworth in Grand Rapids via AeroMed.

The suspect, identified as Devin Sebastian Tumbleson, age 28 from Belding, was initially arrested for aggravated assault and lodged at the Montcalm County Jail.

He was later charged with Assault With Intent To Do Great Bodily Harm Less Than Murder and Assault By Strangulation. Tumbleson was arraigned Tuesday afternoon and he remains behind bars with a $25,000.00 bond.

Police said the man and woman knew each other but were not involved in an intimate relationship.

The Crystal woman remains in the hospital listed in Critical Condition.

The Ionia County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan State Police assisted the Sheriff’s Office.

The case remains under investigation.

Police descended on a meth lab in Greenville Sunday morning, January 19. Photo courtesy of Woodtv.com.

The Central Michigan Enforcement Team (CMET) and the Michigan State Police Lakeview Post investigated a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in the City of Greenville on Sunday, January 19.

MSP Lakeview troopers responded to the scene in an attempt to arrest the homeowner on an outstanding warrant and investigate the reports of illegal activity taking place at the residence. When troopers from the Lakeview Post attempted to make contact with the residents, they refused to answer the door. The residence was secured and a search warrant was obtained.

The Michigan State Police Emergency Response Team responded to the scene. After a brief standoff, the occupants of the residence exited and were arrested. CMET then responded and a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory was removed from the residence.

Arrested was John Vogl, 43; Cassaundra Kidder, 22; and a 17 year old male. All were arrested and lodged at the Montcalm County Jail on methamphetamine related charges.

CMET was assisted at the scene by Michigan State Police Lakeview Post, Greenville Department of Public Safety, and the Michigan State Police Emergency Response Team.  CMET is a multi-jurisdictional drug task force operating in Montcalm, Newaygo, Mecosta and Ionia County. CMET consists of detectives from the Michigan State Police, Montcalm County Sheriff’s Department, Ionia County Sheriff’s Department, Newaygo County Sheriff’s Department, Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department, Big Rapids Department of Public Safety and Ferris State University Department of Public Safety.

This investigation continues and anyone with information can contact Silent Observer or CMET at 1-800-342-0406.

Cole Zachary Spears

A Howard City man has been arrested and charged with two counts of 4^th degree criminal sexual assault in a crime against a juvenile in Howard City.

Cole Zachary Spears, 25, was arraigned on the charges on Monday, April 1, and lodged in the Montcalm County Jail.

The assault took place in Sept of 2012 at a neighborhood home in the early morning hours and was reported in January. The suspect was a stranger to the victim.
Spears was arrested March 28 as a result of the investigation. He is on probation for a previous sexual assault of a minor.

Anyone with additional information on this crime is requested to contact police. Police are seeking possible witnesses to speak with.
You may contact Chief DeWitt at 231 937 4311 ext 103 or policechief@howardcity.org.