Police Beat

Thieves going ‘car to car’ breaking into vehicles

August 21, 2025

HART — The Hart Police Department is warning residents to keep their car doors locked due to a recent rash of vehicle break-ins. “The Hart Police Department has recently investigated several thefts from unlocked vehicles in the last week,” states a press release from HPD. “Suspects are going from car to car, checking vehicles to see if they are unlocked.…

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Suspected gunman shot by officer may have caused his own trailer to burn down just days prior

August 18, 2025

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.…

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Man allegedly drives drunk to jail to turn himself in on drug warrant

August 18, 2025

HART — A 25-year-old Kingsport, Tenn. man allegedly drove drunk to the Oceana County Jail to turn himself in on an outstanding drug warrant Monday, Aug. 11, around 1:30 p.m., said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast. The man showed visible signs of intoxication upon his arrival at the jail, and an investigation was conducted. In addition to his felony drug…

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Sheriff’s office responds to six injury crashes at the sand dunes over the past week

August 18, 2025

GOLDEN TOWNSHIP — The Oceana County Sheriff’s Office has responded to half a dozen injury-causing crashes at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes during the past week. The most serious crash occurred Saturday, Aug. 16, at 12:38 p.m. when a 29-year-old Newport, Mich. man riding a 2023 Polaris RZR in the ORV scramble area was turning right “at a high rate…

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Man arrested for meth possession, multiple other charges

August 18, 2025

The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com.  GRANT TOWNSHIP — A 46-year-old Paris, Mich. man was arrested on charges of methamphetamine possession, carrying a concealed weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, driving while license suspended, open intoxicants in a vehicle and a registration violation Monday, Aug. 18, just before…

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