Sheriff’s deputies apprehend suspect following slow-speed chase and water standoff; psychiatric review pending.

Felony Charges Follow Strange Water Standoff in Bay Port

BAY PORT, Mich. — A 43-year-old Bay Port resident is facing multiple charges after a property damage complaint escalated into a police pursuit and ended with the suspect driving into the waters of Saginaw Bay on Tuesday night.

According to reports from both ThumbNet.net and the Huron Daily Tribune, the incident began around 9:54 p.m. on June 24, 2025, when a Huron County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a call on Geiger Road in Fair Haven Township. A homeowner had reported that the driver of a pickup truck intentionally damaged their lawn and made threatening statements before fleeing the scene.

A deputy located the vehicle a short time later, eastbound on Geiger Road near M-25. The suspect honked his horn as he passed the patrol unit but refused to stop when the deputy attempted a traffic stop. The driver maintained a speed of 30–40 miles per hour as he traveled into Bay Port.

Instead of stopping, the suspect drove through Bay Port’s residential streets and then onto the shoreline, continuing approximately 150 yards into Saginaw Bay, still inside his vehicle.

Deputies Try Negotiation as Suspect Sits in Lake

Additional deputies from the Huron County Sheriff’s Department, along with Sebewaing and Caseville police, responded to the unusual scene. The suspect remained in his vehicle while partially submerged in the lake, exchanging words with officers but refusing to exit the truck or return to land.

Law enforcement grew concerned about the suspect’s mental state. However, the situation deescalated when the man’s brother arrived at the scene and spoke with authorities. According to Sheriff Kelly Hanson, deputies determined the suspect was not a danger to himself or others. Officers then entered the water and arrested the man without further resistance.

Suspect Linked to Multiple Incidents Across Huron County

Investigators have since connected the suspect to additional incidents earlier that day in Bad Axe and Sebewaing, though specific details have not been released. The individual remains in custody pending a psychiatric evaluation. Bond has been set at $15,000.

He is currently charged with felony fleeing and eluding. Additional charges related to the property damage on Geiger Road and alleged threats made toward the homeowner are also being pursued.

The Huron Daily Tribune reported that Sheriff Hanson credited the peaceful resolution to cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the involvement of the suspect’s family.

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