Montcalm County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Stanton man for operating a boat while intoxicated on Sunday, August 13, 2017 at approximately 4:54 P.M. on Crystal Lake.

According to police, they were dispatched to a possible intoxicated boater who had anchored his boat near the public beach. As the marine patrol approached, the operator attempted to leave the area but deputies stopped him. Deputies believe that the man, Aaron Russell Pallick, 37, of Stanton was intoxicated. He was lodged at the jail on a charge of operating a boat while intoxicated, and subsequently released on a $500.00 bond.

“Even though the summer is quickly coming to an end, the Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone that excessive alcohol use combined with normal summer activities can have tragic results, therefore, everyone is encouraged to use good judgement and be respectful of others,” said a Sheriff Department spokesperson.

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.

Branden Miller

A Montcalm County man was arrested on Thursday, December 31, and remains behind bars, for breaking into a family member’s home and damaging property.

According to the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office, the call came in to Montcalm Central Distpatch at 9:34 p.m., December 31 (New Year’s eve). The caller, a 67-year-old Crystal woman, said that a family member, later identified as Branden Miller, 26, of Crystal, had broken into her home, in the 8000 block of East Sidney Road, in Crystal Township.

Police said the investigation showed that Miller was intoxicated and tried to find the woman’s car keys. When she tried to stop him, Miller shoved her to the floor, causing her to suffer some minor injuries. Police said that Miller took a bottle of alcohol from the home when he left, and went to a nearby home where he was apprehended without further incident.

Miller has been charged with First Degree Home Invasion and Malicious Destruction of Property Less than $200.00. He remains behind bars on a $5500.00 cash/surety bond.

Montcalm County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted in the arrest by Carson City Police and the Michigan State Police.

A man died last weekend after crashing his pickup truck into a tree in Sidney Township.

According to the Montcalm County Sheriff Department, they responded to the accident on W. County Farm Road near S. Holland Road on Saturday, December 5, about 10:30 p.m.

When they arrived, deputies found a 2002 Ford F150 pickup truck that had collided with a tree on the north side of the roadway. The driver of the pickup, Michael Hansen, 24, of Sheridan, was found deceased when police arrived. He was the only occupant of the truck at the time of the crash.

Police said that the driver was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident and the vehicle’s airbags had deployed. The accident remains under investigation. They said alcohol is suspected and may have been a factor in the crash.

Michael Hansen was a 2010 graduate of Central Montcalm High School.

This Montcalm County Sheriff vehicle was struck by another vehicle while parked alongside US131.

The Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office is advising motorists to slow down on slippery roads after a vehicle ran into one of their cruisers at the scene of an accident.

While investigating a traffic crash on US131 near the Kendaville Road overpass on Saturday, November 21, a Montcalm County Sheriff’s cruiser was struck. The crash occurred at approximately 9:52 p.m.

The deputy had his cruiser parked along the road edge with the emergency lights activated, while policing the initial crash. A northbound Ford F250 lost control and crashed into the cruiser. The cruiser was unoccupied at the time and there were no injuries.

The Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers that winter driving season is upon us all. “Drivers are required to slow down and drive more cautiously during inclement weather to avoid being involved in a crash,” said Undersheriff Michael J. Williams. “Slowing down, leaving more space between vehicles, leaving for one’s destination earlier, and keeping one’s vehicle windows clear of frost are some suggestions to drivers to help make trips safer. Road conditions can also change without warning and drivers need to be able to react accordingly.”

The Michigan State Police at Lakeview are investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred on March 16, 2014 at 10:25 am at the intersection of M-46 and Youngman Rd, Cato Township.

A 2001 Chevrolet Malibu was traveling north on Youngman Rd. and failed to stop at the stop sign at M-46, and collided with an eastbound 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The HHR was driven by 54-year-old Daniel Devore, of Lakeview, who received minor injuries.

The driver of the Malibu, Calby Hunter, 72, of Greenville, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt. His passenger, Peter Nielsen, 58, of Coral, was taken to Kelsey Memorial Hospital in Lakeview for non-life threatening injuries. Both Nielsen and Devore were wearing seatbelts.

State troopers were assisted by the Montcalm County Sheriff Department, Lakeview District Fire Department, Montcalm County Ambulance and Montcalm county EMS Alpha 5.

State troopers are continuing to investigate the incident. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor at this time. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact the MSP at 989-352-8444.

Howard City Police Officers are now Montcalm County Sheriff Deputies. Pictured left to right: Former Chief Steve Dewitt; Officers Trent Moeggenberg and Brandon Allen

The Village of Howard City and the County of Montcalm recently approved an agreement that would merge the Howard City Police Department with the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office. This means that the three full time police officers serving Howard City—Former Chief Steve Dewitt, and Officers Trent Moeggenberg and Brandon Allen—became Sheriff Employees March 1, 2014. The agreement also provides for the transfer of two patrol vehicles to the Sheriff’s Office along with some additional police and office equipment.

“This agreement is an excellent example of Government agencies working together to provide the best and most economical way to provide services to the citizens in their community,” Sheriff William Barnwell stated. “All three of the officers are very qualified and have done an excellent job with the Howard City Police Department. I am confident they will continue to do so as they assume their new role as Sheriff Deputies.”

“This agreement will enhance our existing Police activities,” said S. Michael Scott, Howard City Village President. “We have had an excellent Police Department for decades. However, with changes in requirements and administration, it has become increasingly difficult to have our officers on the road as many hours as we would like. This agreement, with the administrative resources that the Sheriff’s Office provides, will allow more proactive Policing. It is always difficult to change but we feel that it is the right time and the change will not only benefit both the citizens of the Village and Township but also the Sheriff’s Department,” said Scott.

The existing police agreement between the Village of Howard City and Reynolds Township for 20 hours of police protection per week will now be handled by the Sheriff’s Office. This means that Howard City will pay the Sheriff’s Office for 5,000 hours of police hours per year and the Township will pay for 1,000 hours for a total of 6,000 patrol hours or three full time Deputies per year.

The Village will pay the county $511,170 over the course of nearly three years. The contract will expire on December 31, 2016, at which time the village may either continue to contract for services or reestablish their own department.  Reynolds Township will pay the county $29,820 through the end of 2014. However, the Township may choose to extend the contract for additional years at the end of their contract.

Citizens in Howard City and Reynolds Township should call 911 for all emergencies. For non-emergency calls or to contact a Sheriff Deputy please call Montcalm County Central Dispatch at 989-831-3500 or the Sheriff’s Office at 989-831-7590.

A Howard City woman, driving the above vehicle, slammed into the rear-end of a Chevy Tahoe driven by a Gladstone man Sunday morning, causing his death.

Montcalm County Sheriff Deputies said they believe drug use by a Howard City woman was a factor in a three-car-crash that killed a Gladstone man Sunday.

According to police, Nicole Stapleton, 30, of Howard City, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado pickup northbound on Ensley Street, in Howard City, at a high rate of speed, at about 9:23 a.m. Sunday, February 26, when she rear-ended another vehicle. The impact sent the vehicle, a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by John Reniff, 31, of Gladstone, across the road, where it struck a southbound 2006 Chrysler Town and Country minivan, which was stopped and waiting to turn left on to Walnut Street. After hitting Reniff’s vehicle, Stapleton’s Silverado continued north and struck a tree.

Stapleton, who was not wearing a seatbelt, and Reniff, who was wearing a seatbelt, were both airlifted to Butterworth Hospital. Reniff later died due to injuries he sustained in the crash.

A Gladstone man, driving this Chevy Tahoe, was rear-ended by a Howard City woman, causing his death.

Melissa Ballard, 30, of Gladstone, a passenger in the Reniff vehicle, and Julie Osbourne, 43, of Howard City, the driver of the minivan, were both transported to Spectrum Hospital by Montcalm Emergency Medical Services.

Deputies said that further investigation showed that Stapleton, in the moments leading up to the crash, had rear-ended a Volkswagen near Federal Road and Kendaville Road, about 1-1/2 miles south of the crash scene, and then continued north at a high rate of speed. Deputies believe drug use is a factor and the accident remains under investigation. The Michigan State Police and Howard City Fire also assisted at the scene.