Intoxicated driver leaves scene of crash

• Troopers are seeking several warrants for a 22-year-old Gaylord man after he reportedly fled the scene of a rollover crash Nov. 24, around 7:10 p.m. in Chester Township.

According to reports, the man was driving a 1996 Chrysler Eagle westbound on Old State Road, east of Emerald Lake Road, when he lost control of his vehicle and drove into a ditch on the north side of the roadway. The vehicle sustained extensive damage after it reportedly rolled several times.

The driver reportedly was injured and fled on foot into the woods. Investigators later identified him when the owner of the vehicle contacted police and identified the driver as being her boyfriend.

The suspect was treated at Otsego Memorial Hospital and treated and released.

Troopers are seeking warrants for the motorist for allegedly operating under the influence of alcohol, fleeing the scene of an injury accident, driving without insurance and driving on a suspended license.



Paintball guns target vehicles, people

• Troopers investigated a report Nov. 20 of unknown subjects shooting a paintball gun at people and vehicles parked on Dora Lane in Bagley Township.

Reports indicate a suspect silver pickup occupied by several young males was seen in the vicinity of the incidents.

Anyone with information on the identify of any of the suspects is asked to call the Gaylord post, 732-5141.

• A 21-year-old Gaylord man, who reports indicate was intoxicated, was eastbound on Old Alba Road at West Otsego Lake Drive in Bagley Township, Tuesday, around 4 a.m. when he reportedly drove through the intersection and crashed into a tree.

The impact from the crash reportedly caused the vehicle, which sustained extensive damage, to overturn.

The man and a passenger, Kiara Kerr, 19, of Gaylord, reportedly sought their own treatment at Otsego Memorial Hospital where they were treated and released. A second passenger, Travis Stallard, 26, of Gaylord, reportedly was not injured.

The driver was cited for operating while intoxicated.

Cheboygan post



Florida man extradited; faces charges in Cheboygan

• According to a news release from the Cheboygan post of the Michigan State Police, Gerald D. Benton, 36, of Florida, was extradited back to Michigan Wednesday and arraigned on charges of conducting a criminal enterprise, conspiracy to conduct a criminal enterprise, two counts of safe breaking and two counts of breaking and entering.

Benton, who was recently released from a Florida prison, is lodged in the Cheboygan County Jail on a $250,000 bond while awaiting a Dec. 12 preliminary exam.

According to authorities, he is allegedly a member of a serial breaking-and-entering crew suspected of burglarizing at least a dozen businesses in Cheboygan and Emmet counties. Troopers and law enforcement agencies in both counties investigated the break-ins, which allegedly occurred in the fall of 2006.

If found guilty of the charges, Benton could face a sentence of life in prison.

Two other suspects, Rebecca Jane Glazier, 27, of Remus and Marsha Lou Pettyjohn, 26, of Cheboygan, were arrested earlier this year in Emmet County for assisting Benton during some of the thefts. A second male suspect is serving time in a Florida prison.

Otsego County Sheriff’s Department

Driver hits tree limb

• Phyllis Clingenpeel, 70, of Vanderbilt, was eastbound on Sturgeon Valley Road, one-tenth of a mile east of Cherwinski Road in Corwith Township, Tuesday, around 3:30 p.m. when she reportedly began to yield for a fire truck which was approaching from behind the 1999 Ford Escort she was driving.

According to reports, Clingenpeel’s vehicle slid off of the road on the ice and snow and struck a tree limb, causing moderate damage to her vehicle.

She reportedly was not injured.



Drive off at gas station reported

• Deputies responded to a complaint Sunday from Nicole Cherry at the EZ-Mart self-service station in Vanderbilt who reported a customer had driven off without paying for $76.37 in fuel.

According to reports, the driver of a blue pickup pulling a silver horse trailer attempted to use a credit card at the pump but it did not go through. The subject then filled the tank of his vehicle and left the station without paying.

The incident was closed pending further information.

Gaylord City Police



Rollover crash on I-75

• David Isham, 48, of Clifford, was southbound on I-75, one mile south of Old 27 South, on Nov. 20, around 11:50 p.m. when he reportedly lost control of the 2002 Chevrolet pickup he was driving.

Isham’s vehicle left the east side of the roadway and rolled over, according to police. He reportedly was not injured but extensive damage was reported to his vehicle.

Reports indicate the roadway was slippery and there were no citations issued.

Plow truck driver cited

• Claudine Hasty, 37, of Gaylord, was eastbound on West Main Street, just east of Edelweiss Village Parkway, Tuesday, around 4:55 p.m. when the passenger side of the 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix she was driving reportedly was struck by the rear end of a 2000 GMC Sierra pickup driven by Herbert Reed, 44, of Gaylord.

Reports indicate Reed was plowing the parking lot at the Holiday Inn Express and backed into the roadway, striking Hasty’s vehicle. Reed told police he did not see Hasty’s vehicle.

Both vehicles reportedly sustained moderate damage. No injuries were reported.

Reed was cited for hazardous driving — failed to yield.

Driver backs up at stop sign, hits vehicle

• Robert Robertson, 69, of Gaylord, was stopped for a stop sign on West Fifth Street at South Otsego Avenue, Tuesday, around 12:30 p.m. when he reportedly backed up the 1994 Ford pickup he was driving and struck the front end of a 1998 Honda Accord driven by Corrine Mullins, 36, of Gaylord.

Mullins’ vehicle sustained minor damage. None was reported to Robertson’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported and no citations issued.

Rear-end crash during whiteout

• Steven Rybicki, 25, of Gaylord, was northbound on Dickerson Road, just south of Van Tyle Road, Tuesday, around 12:25 p.m. when the rear end of the 2005 Chevrolet he was driving reportedly was struck by the  front end of a 1994 Ford pickup driven by Adam Prusakiewicz, 25, of Elmira.

Reports indicate traffic had stopped due to whiteout conditions at the time of the accident.

No injures were reported. Rybicki’s vehicle received minor damage and none was reported to Prusakiewicz’s.

No citations were issued.

2-vehicle crash on North Center

• John Swantek, 58, of Gaylord, was northbound on North Center Avenue at Huron Street, Wednesday, around 8:15 a.m. when the passenger side of the 1998 Chevrolet pickup he was driving reportedly was struck by the front end of a 2004 Ford driven by Melissa Starks, 27, of Frederic.

Reports indicate Starks, who was attempting to make a left turn onto North Center from westbound Huron Street, thought Swantek was going to turn onto Huron Street and pulled into the roadway.

Moderate damage was reported to Starks’ vehicle and minor damage to Swantek’s.

No injuries were reported or citations issued.

Minor damage in 2-vehicle accident

• Colleen Whitsitt, 57, of Millersburg, was eastbound on West Main Street just west of Wisconsin Avenue, Monday, around 6:25 p.m. when the passenger side of the 2003 Jeep Liberty she was driving was struck by a 2006 Cadillac DTS driven by Frances Dickerson, 59, Elmira.

According to reports, Dickerson, eastbound on West Main Street, attempted to change lanes and struck Whitsitt’s vehicle.

Both vehicles sustained minor damage No injuries were reported.

— Compiled by Michael Jones

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