Suspect found dead in Hancock attack and vandalism | News, Sports, Jobs

Cameras captured his image of a person suspected of running over an 80-year-old man in his yard on Anthony Street in Hancock. (Photo courtesy of Hancock Police via Houghton Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK – Police found a Quincy Township man dead in his home Monday, a day after he was suspected of committing a series of politically motivated crimes in Hancock.

Hancock police had received a message from someone at the man’s address on Samson Street, who “Confess to a crime involving an ATV rider within the last 24 hours.” and also to “Send someone to pick me up.” Police circulated photos of the driver on Sunday following several incidents, including damaging two cars and running over an 80-year-old man on Anthony Street.

The 80-year-old man was hospitalized at UP Health – Portage and was reported in critical condition Monday. Hancock Police Chief Tami Sleeman was awaiting an update Tuesday afternoon, but said the man had spoken with an officer.

When officers from Hancock and the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the suspect’s home, they found the 22-year-old man dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted single gunshot wound.

Acting on a search warrant for the man’s home, officers found several electronic devices that will be sent to the Michigan State Police Crime Lab for analysis.

Other evidence included the ATV used in the incident and the clothing the suspect was wearing on surveillance video.

The Houghton County Sheriff’s Office and Hancock Police Department believe there is no further threat to the public at this time, police said.

The investigation is ongoing and the devices are being examined to obtain further information and determine whether the suspect acted on his own initiative.

“It will take some time before we get the data we might be able to gain from it,” Said Houghton County Sheriff Josh Saaranen. “Other than that, there was no evidence that anyone else was involved.”

There is no record of the suspect having had previous contact with police, Saaranen said.

The suspect’s name will not be released until next of kin can be notified. Further details will be released as the investigation progresses, police said.

Police say the crimes appear to be politically motivated. The victims of the incidents had displayed election posters supporting Donald Trump and thank you stickers and “thin blue line” Flags supporting law enforcement.

Both vehicles had their valves broken off, deflating the tires, Sleeman said. In one vehicle, the suspect smashed the windshield and windows, ripped apart the grille, ripped off the mirror and ripped out the headlights.

Saaranen and Sleeman said that at this point, it appeared that the 22-year-old had no prior connection to his targets.

Hancock police have obtained video of the suspect apparently searching for cars that fit his criteria in a parking lot on Quincy Street.

“It seems as if he is looking at the backs of the vehicles driving around the parking lot, as if he is looking for political bumper stickers,” Said Sleeman.

At the Anthony Street apartment, the suspect shouted obscenities at the 80-year-old man and tore down his sign, Sleeman said. When the man tried to put his sign back up, the ATV driver turned around.

“The victim had his back to the quad, and then he drove into him from behind, ran him over and drove away,” She said. “Any reasonable person knows that you can kill someone if you run them over like that.”

Saaranen condemned the suspect’s actions and called on people to remain polite.

“I don’t think Houghton County is a place where anyone would tolerate any kind of political violence against a candidate, be it local or national, and just hope that as a community we can avoid that rhetoric during the campaign season,” he said.

Sleeman agreed.

“People have the right to express their opinions,” She said. “There is no place for this kind of violence.”

The Houghton County Sheriff’s Office is working with and has been assisted on scene by the Hancock Police Department, Houghton Police Department, Houghton Police Department, Michigan State Police, Mercy EMS, and the Houghton County Medical Examiner’s Office, as well as the FBI’s Marquette Field Office.