SAULT STE. MARIE — A 39-year-old man from Florida was arrested on Thursday after a two-day manhunt led officers to a residence on Riverside Drive in Sault Ste. Marie.
The manhunt first began Wednesday morning after a man driving a white Honda CRV was seen on security footage entering the parking lot of the Michigan State Police Post on Ashmun Street. After exiting his vehicle, the man was seen dousing several state police cars in gasoline, lighting them on fire, and then shooting the cars from a distance with a rifle. He then fled the scene in his car.
As officers hunted for the suspect, local businesses and homeowners were asked to check their own security footage and report anything suspicious. Sault Area Schools kept their doors locked but proceeded with classes as normal on Wednesday.
The manhunt ended on Thursday afternoon, after an extensive investigation and multiple tips from the public led officers to a home on Riverside Drive in Sault Ste. Marie.
At approximately 1:45 p.m. Thursday, the Michigan State Police Emergency Support team executed a search warrant on the house. During the execution of the warrant, the suspect opened fire at police officers with a gun, and officers returned fire.
The suspect sustained a gunshot injury, and was taken to MyMichigan Medical Center Sault for treatment. No officers were injured in the incident.
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Officials said the suspect is a 39-year-old man originally from Florida. No further details have been released at this time.
Maximum charges are being sought, but the investigation is still active and the suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com
