Suspect dead after 80-year-old hit by ATV in Hancock

HANCOCK, Mich. (WJMN) – UPDATE: 12:04 p.m. Wednesday: In a release from the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office, authorities provided information the suspect in a string of recent incidents, has died.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the Police Department received a message from someone saying that they wanted to “confess a crime involving an ATV driver within the last 24 hours.” The message continued they requested authorities, “send someone to pick me up.”

When Deputies and Officers arrived, they found the suspect dead and believe he died by suicide.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or for more information.

UPDATE 10:07 a.m. Wednesday : The Hancock Police Department provided an update on Tuesday morning, that the driver of an ATV suspected in multiple incidents around the city has now been identified.

Authorities thank the community, and other law enforcement agencies for their help in identifying the suspect. As the investigation is ongoing, the name of the suspect has not been released. At this time, authorities have not announced any current or potential criminal charges.

ORIGINAL: The Hancock Police Department is asking for the public to help them track down an individual they believe is responsible for multiple incidents around the city, including vandalism and running a man down with an ATV while trying to replace a yard sign in his lawn.

According to police, officers responded to three different calls on Sunday, July 21. One of the incidents resulted in a man being left in critical condition.

At 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, officers responded to a home on Anthony Street. We spoke with authorities by phone who say someone on an ATV drove by a home and pulled political signs out of the yard.

Hancock Police Chief Tami Sleeman described the incident. “The officers arrive on scene, they find a man whose face down in his yard,” said Chief Sleeman. “They were able to piece together that the person driving this ATV had come by right prior, pulled out some political signs out of the yard. The victim in the case then went back to put the the signs to stand them back up in his yard as when the four wheeler had turned around and came back. Some of the witness said they could hear that it was the four wheeler had sped up, left the roadway, integrated into the victim, and ran over him.”

The man was taken to the hospital. “He is in critical condition at the hospital. We’re still waiting to hear more on his condition,” said Chief Sleeman Monday afternoon.

Authorities say the other two incidents also involved yard signage and or stickers on vehicles. Those events happened on Tezcuco Street and North Lincoln Drive.

The suspect was described by police as a slender individual riding a Honda ATV, possibly with braided hair, dreadlocks, or similar-looking accessory on their helmet.

Chief Sleeman asks anyone with information about who the suspect may be to call them at 906-482-3102.

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