WASHTENAW COUNTY SHERIFF

Some of the fires have been started in trashcans or dumpsters, and have resulted in at least five housefires.

After several suspicious fires, families were forced from their homes in a Washtenaw County community. Four fires within a week and a half now have state police investigating. Fortunately, nobody has been hurt, but neighbors are concerned a serial arsonist is setting these fires.

Justen Watkins is the leader of The Base, a pro-Hitler movement that advocates for a race war against non-white people

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A nationwide effort to improve emergency communication services is being assisted by Washtenaw County’s top law enforcement official. Washtenaw County Sheriff’ Jerry Clayton announced Wednesday, July 6, that he is part of a nationwide effort to analyze and improve 911 services through the publicly led program Transform911. Clayton serves as co-chairman of the program, which is a national initiative to improve 911 emergency communication centers throughout the county, making them better able to assist the public. “While I believe that the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office has already taken significant steps toward evolving 911 response in Washtenaw County. After years of research and foundational work, starting in 2019, the initiative released a blueprint for how better manage 911 systems, recognizing many 911 systems are under resourced, under staffed, not understood by the general public and not well positioned to nimbly adapt to future need.

AAPS Superintendent Jeanice Swift reacted to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas that left 21 people, the majority of them children, dead.

Ann Arbor officials are cautioning community members after a teenager was left in critical condition after drowning on Wednesday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office at 734-971-8400.

LYNDON TOWNSHIP, MI -- The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s dive team pulled a man’s body from Sullivan Lake on Saturday evening. Reports of a body in the lake were called in by two Dexter-area residents who had been planning to fish in the Lyndon Township Lake. Authorities were able to recover the body from the water near North Territorial Road and Embury Road about 8:45 p.m. The Dexter and Chelsea fire departments responded to the call, as did the sheriff’s office, Michigan State Police and Huron Valley Ambulance. Police at the scene were investigating and couldn’t immediately provide further details.

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WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – The Michigan Attorney General Office’s Public Integrity unit has charged two Washtenaw County Sheriff’s deputies for felony misconduct. Ellul is accused of using excessive force while assisting in removing an inmate from his cell in the Washtenaw County Jail, officials said. Their current employment status with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is unknown. Additionally, Nessel’s public integrity unit issued charges against several other police officers outside of Washtenaw County. Deputy Scott Voit of the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office was charged with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery and one felony count of misconduct in office by a public official.

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ANN ARBOR With the Aug. 4 primary just over a week away, Ann Arbor voters are looking to see who will represent them locally, statewide and beyond. Although many residents may have voted absentee already, many are still in the process of reviewing candidates and making decisions. 3rd District county commissionerJacob Ehrman (R)Ken Siler (R)4th District county commissionerDarcy Berwick (D)Daryl Campbell (D)Adam Cecil (D)Paul Jakabcsin (D)Caroline Sanders (D)5th District county commissionerJustin Hodge (D)Denise Kirchoff (D)Karen Lovejoy Roe (D)Michael White (D)Pittsfield Charter Township borders the southern part of Ann Arbor. Some parts have an Ann Arbor address and some students in the area are serviced by Ann Arbor Public Schools. PittsfieldTownship supervisorMandy Grewal (D)Christina Lirones (D)Pittsfield Township treasurerFeliziana Meyer (D)Patricia Tupacz Scribner (D)Pittsfield Township trustee (four seats available)Jonas Berzanskis (D)Linda Edwards-Brown (D)Yameen Jaffer (D)Gerald Krone (D)Jason Meier (D)Janet Nevaux (D)George Ralph (D)Andrea Urda-Thompson (D)Sean Zera (D)Pittsfield Township park commissioner (five seats available)

ANN ARBOR Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton has been elected as a founding member of a new nationwide organization and think tank that aims to steer policy in the criminal justice field. According to its mission statement:The Council on Criminal Justice advances understanding of the criminal justice policy choices facing the nation and builds consensus for solutions that enhance safety and justice for all. We believe a fair and effective criminal justice system is essential to democracy and a core measure of our nations well-being. The Councils advisory Board of Trustees is co-chaired by Mark Holden of Koch Industries and former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates. Jerry BrownFormer Philadelphia Mayor Michael NutterVan Jones of CNNSheriff Clayton was nominated by Trustees and Directors and elected by the Councils Board of Directors.

Footage from the deputy in questions body cam reveals ShaTeina Grady El bit the officer during the altercation. According to Sheriff Clayton, Grady El bit the deputy first and he responded by punching her. According to the body cam footage, an officer tended to a gunshot victim who was sitting in her car. Sheriff Clayton would not comment on whether punching is an appropriate use of force against a suspect or if it is part of training. The body cam footage was released after days of protests outside the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office and on Washtenaw Avenue near US-23 where hundreds of protesters gathered to demand answers for excessive force used by the sheriffs deputy.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton spoke to Local 4 regarding a viral video that has prompted outrage. Clayton says as an African American and the sheriff of Washtenaw County it was disheartening to watch the video of one of his deputies repeatedly punching a woman while trying to make an arrest. READ: Investigation underway after video goes viral showing Washtenaw County deputy striking woman during arrestObviously, its an unfortunate situation. The images themselves are disturbing to me, said Sheriff Clayton. We have spent over a decade working and culturing the organization and partnering with the community and co-producing public safety, recalled Sheriff Clayton.

Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton said several officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave, including the one seen on the video punching the woman, and an internal investigation is underway. There is absolutely no doubt, and no argument from me, that the images in the video are disturbing, Clayton said. The sheriffs department was called to scene on reports 30 people were arguing and shots had been fired. In his statement, Clayton said his office is investigating the use of force against the Grady Els and their arrests. He says the sheriffs department is committed to sharing all the facts in the case with the public as it becomes available.