Don Albert Stapel Jr.
Stapel’s trailer burned down last Monday
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
GOLDEN TOWNSHIP — Following an hours-long manhunt in Mears that locked down Silver Lake area residents and businesses Sunday, Aug. 17, a shooting suspect was shot by an officer, according to the Michigan State Police.
Don Albert Stapel, Jr,, 59, is dead, and the community is now safe. The Michigan State Police emergency support team found Stapel in an outbuilding, according to MSP.
Michigan State Police had asked residents in the 7500 block of Fox Road in Mears to shelter in place as they searched for Stapel in the area.
A heavy police response ensued after a man was shot in the leg Sunday morning.
MSP issued the following press release Sunday evening on X:
“At approximately 6:40 p.m., Mr. Stapel was fatally wounded during the police response. Per MSP department policy, detectives from the Fifth District Investigative Response Team (IRT) are headed to the scene to conduct the officer-involved-shooting investigation.”
The Hart post is part of MSP’s Sixth District.
A trailer Stapel co-owned at 7408 W. Fox Rd. burned down Monday morning, Aug. 11. According to equalization records, Stapel owned the property with Otto A. Stapel. The cause of the fire has not yet been released.
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