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, shooting suspect 59-year-old Don Albert Stapel, Jr., was shot by an officer.
A trailer Stapel co-owned at 7408 W. Fox Rd. burned down just days prior to yesterday’s events on 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 by fire investigators. However, Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast said it appears that Stapel may have played a role in igniting the blaze.
Don Albert Stapel, Jr.
“It’s all associated — it all plays a part in this,” said Sheriff Mast Monday, Aug. 18. “It’s very likely that Don played a part in lighting that fire. It’s extremely likely that his situation played a part in that fire. I’m not saying he tried to do it on purpose.”
The Michigan State Police emergency support team found Stapel in an outbuilding Sunday evening, according to MSP.
MSP 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. An update on the man’s status had not yet been released as of noon Monday.
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.
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