– Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo
Money from sale of the truck to be used for buying new guns
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — The Oceana County Sheriff’s Office is selling a 2015 Ford F350 one ton dual-wheeled pickup truck that was seized from a methamphetamine dealer.
Money from the sale of the truck will be used for buying new pistols for the sheriff’s deputies.
“During the investigation, a large amount of methamphetamine and multiple firearms were found inside the vehicle,” said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast. “Because of the amount of meth that was confiscated and the nature of the firearms — a loaded 9mm pistol and a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun — the sheriff’s department proceeded with seizure paperwork to seize the asset that was being used during the commission of multiple crimes.”
– Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo
“The suspect had recently purchased the vehicle in February of 2025 for over $32,000. The vehicle was paid outright with no liens.”
The truck has a 6.7-liter diesel engine and has been driven 160,000 miles — mainly in southern states. “It is very nicely outfitted.”
“He only had it for four months, and since then it’s been housed indoors at the sheriff’s office storage facility,” said Mast.
Following his arrest, Joshua Charles Averill, 48, was served with forfeiture paperwork.
“He was dealing methamphetamine and was armed very heavily in our community, so we seized his truck,” said Sheriff Mast. “The asset seizure paperwork is complete, and we have a clean title in the sheriff’s department’s name.
“Yesterday, we presented the situation to the county board of commissioners, and we have been given the go-ahead to proceed with sealed bids either in writing or electronically delivered to the sheriff’s department.”
– Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo
Bids will be accepted through the month of April.
“We would like to sell this truck and buy some very badly needed equipment to update our road patrol deputies with a new optics and firearm platform — new sidearms and firearms — without having to burden the taxpayers with that cost. We don’t have to ask the taxpayers to dip into their pockets — we can have a drug dealer buy us new guns.”
The truck has been detailed, so it is completely clean.
If an interested party would like to view it or test drive it, they can call the sheriff’s office at 231-873-2121. Sealed bids can be sent via US mail to the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, 216 Lincoln St., Hart MI 49420 or emailed to sheriff@oceanasheriff.net.
Averill was convicted by a jury of four felony counts in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court, Dec. 4, 2025. He was sentenced Jan. 26, 2026 by Judge Susan K. Sniegowski to 10 to 20 years in prison for a conviction of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. “This is consecutive and following two years for felony firearm,” said Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon. “He was also sentenced to 13 months to five years each for carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a short-barrelled shotgun. These last two counts are concurrent to all other charges.
– Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo
“On Feb. 26, 2025 on Garfield Road, Deputy Gavin Porter, Deputy Brendan Nienhuis, and Sgt. Cam Hanson were affecting a warrant arrest on different individuals,” said Prosecutor Bizon. “This led to information that a drug dealer was in the area. When a vehicle matching the description drove by, they were able to develop cause for a traffic stop.” The vehicle was the Ford F350 dual-wheeled pickup truck.
Averill
“During the traffic stop, it was discovered that the defendant had a warrant, and he was arrested. There was a female passenger in the vehicle, but she did not have a valid license and could not drive the vehicle away. The vehicle needed to be impounded and towed. This required the deputies to conduct an inventory search of the vehicle. This search discovered a pistol in the console, along with some drugs, a scale, and bags commonly used for packaging narcotics,” said Prosecutor Bizon.
“The female presented no reason or authority to be detained prior to the search and was allowed to leave. After the search, the police had reason to recontact her. The police discovered on her over 80 grams of methamphetamine. She told police that she took the drugs from the vehicle to protect the male defendant. She had gone to a nearby house that the suspect was familiar with and had the meth in her purse.”
The 20-year-old woman testified at the trial, Bizon said. She was convicted of a misdemeanor of cocaine use.
“The amount of methamphetamine was above personal use and definitely going to be distributed,” said Bizon.
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