Man Charged In Shooting Incident: Police Search for Weapon

BESSEMER, MI - Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - The following press release was just received at the Chronicle through the Gogebic County Prosecutor's Office.

On Friday afternoon, shortly after 1:30 PM, officers were dispatched to the Airport Road/Lake Road intersection in Ironwood Township. Residents had reported they heard gunshots fired behind Rick’s Muffler Shop. Detective Rod Passuello was first on scene and shortly thereafter numerous Gogebic County Sheriff’s Deputies and other departments responded.

From interviewing witnesses it was determined that two cars had stopped; that yelling took place; and then a subject had put his head and hand out the window and fired shots at the two individuals who had gotten out of their car and approached the shooter’s vehicle. Two men in a pick up truck happened by the intersection just as this was occurring and were able to get a description and a plate number for the shooter’s vehicle. The shooter’s vehicle drove east on Airport Road. The individuals who were shot at went to the Ironwood Public Safety Department and were interviewed. A BOL was put out to area law enforcement agencies. It was determined that there were no injuries and that the three men knew each other and that there was bad blood between the shooter and one of the other men. The shooter had turned on the other men’s vehicle as they drove north on Lake Road near the Forslund’s Lumber yard. According to the men followed, the shooter had tailgated them and was driving erratically. When they pulled over near Rick’s Muffler words were exchanged and then the shooter had opened fire.

Deputy Dan Pertile headed the investigation and was assisted by Michigan State Police Detective Tim Doan. After the suspect was identified, Deputy Gordon Koski interviewed his wife and was able to establish cell phone contact with the suspect, who indicated that he had fled to Wisconsin and would return to turn himself in. He claimed he was gassing up at the Bad River Casino and would return to the scene.

Ashland and Iron County authorities were contacted and Det. Tim Doan also set up surveillance over the state line with the game plan being to allow the defendant to return to the scene but not allow him to take any routes that would enable him to evade authorities. Several hours passed with not contact made. Deputy Pertile and Det. Tim Doan after consulting with prosecutor Richard Adams met with suspect’s wife and gave her information that he would be treated more favorably if he turned himself and his weapon in than if we had to continue to hunt for him. Shorty thereafter they were given word by his wife that he would be arriving where they lived. He arrived and was taken into custody without incident and lodged on a 4 year felony charge of recklessly discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle. He did not have the gun he used and claimed to have thrown it out the window of his car in the area of the casino. He also claimed to have gone as far as the City of Ashland and stopped to get Kentucky Fried Chicken. A search of several areas was made on Friday evening and again on Saturday and Sunday with the assistance of the Gogebic County Search and Rescue Team. No weapon has been recovered.

The weapon has been described as an older .357 revolver, rusty, with dark wood grain grips/handle, chrome plated. If anyone discovers such a weapon, please contact the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department at 906-667-0203, the Bad River Tribal PD at 715-682-7111, or the Ashland County Sheriff’s Department at 715-682-7023.

Additional charges are pending with the Gogebic County Prosecutor’s Office.