Police Search for Shooting Suspect

First posted:  10:07pm, 6/24/12
Updated:  4:03pm, 6/25/12


Paul Hard is in custody, according to Manistee County Sheriff Dale Kowalkowski.  Paul Hard is the suspect in yesterday's shooting of a 14-year old girl near Copemish.  He was detained this afternoon at about 3:30pm, east of Bear Lake.  Charges are pending and he is expected to be arraigned soon.  The Three Pines Gander spoke with Sheriff Kowalkowski just a few minutes ago.




3:57pm, 6/25/12
A variety of law enforcement vehicles continue to be posted in northern Manistee County this afternoon, apparently in concentrated numbers in the Bear Lake area.  


Details on the status of the investigation and the search for the suspect, Paul Hard, have not been available from the Michigan State Police, which is coordinating the activities.  The Three Pines Gander has inquired about the current appearance of the suspect, since two photos have been circulating at various media outlets.  One picture, a mug shot from 2010, shows him with a mustache and beard.  Another picture shows him with only a mustache.  A dispatcher with the Michigan State Police had no comment on his current appearance, and would only say that the suspect has "salt and pepper hair."

There are unconfirmed reports that a SWAT team, along with other law enforcement officials, has assembled at Saddle Up Gas & Grocery.  

Michigan State Police vehicle near the corner of Big Four and Glovers Lake Rds. (courtesy of Beth Ann Buckner)

Manistee County Sheriff vehicle, across from the Arcadia Club
at Norconk and Big Four Rds. (courtesy of Beth Ann Buckner)

  

A variety of officers with various departments, reportedly from the Department of Natural Resources,
Michigan State Police, FBI and SWAT team. (courtesy of Charity Fraly)

Manistee County Sheriff and Michigan State Police vehicles at
Saddle Up Gas & Grocery, on the corner of US-31 and 13 Mile Rd. (courtesy of Charity Fraly)

Another law enforcement vehicle at Saddle Up Gas & Grocery (courtesy of Charity Fraly)

11:22am, 6/25/12
Manistee County Sheriff Dale Kowalkowski says that people can go about their business as the search for the suspect continues, but urged caution.  Audio interview here:  



9:38am, 6/25/12
Paul Hard, the suspect in yesterday's shooting near Copemish, remains at large this morning, according to the Michigan State Police.  As of 9:23am, a dispatcher at the Gaylord office said that he did not have any further information and that everything was "status quo" compared with earlier this morning.  He said that residents should exercise caution and said they should not make contact with anyone unfamiliar.  A request by the Three Pines Gander to speak with a department spokesman was declined. 

Law enforcement vehicles, early Monday morning

4:42am, 6/25/12

Michigan State Police officials in Gaylord are not releasing any additional information at this time, other than repeating that all suspicious activity should be reported, and that the public should call 911 to do so.  A statement by the Michigan State Police is expected sometime after 7:30am this morning.

3:45am, 6/25/12
(Correction:  7:33pm, 6/26/12 - a previous version of this story identified the firearm held by an officer as a rifle.  It was a shotgun.)

A perimeter has been established and remains in effect in Bear Lake, at least, as law enforcement continue to look for Paul Hard, the main suspect in the shooting of a 14-year old girl in Cleon Township.  It is not clear how far the perimeter extends.  

Law enforcement vehicles, early Monday morning

Officials could not immediately be reached for comment, but officers from the Michigan State Police and Manistee County Sheriff's office, including a K-9 unit, were seen stationed at major intersections at 2:23am this morning.  Some remained in their vehicles, with their lights off, while at least one stood near an intersection holding a shotgun.  Others had arrived in the area earlier in the evening from Petoskey.  

The Michigan State Police are currently leading the investigation, which began Sunday morning near Copemish.  At approximately 3am, the Three Pines Gander was told that investigators were currently in the middle of a department briefing, and could be available for comment afterwards.         

10:07pm, 6/24/12


The Manistee News Advocate and 9&10 News are reporting that police are searching for a suspect in the shooting of a 14-year old girl in Cleon Township, near Copemish in northern Manistee County.  The girl has reportedly been flown to a hospital in Grand Rapids, is in stable condition and is with her parents.  

Both media outlets are reporting the suspect's name as Paul Hard, a man in his 40s with dark hair, and driving a late 90s burgundy and silver Chevy Tahoe with the license plate of CDS 4851.  He is reportedly armed and dangerous and police are asking those with information to call 911 and urge the public not to approach the suspect.  

The picture shows a stock image of the kind of vehicle driven by the suspect, the license plate number and a mug shot of the suspect from a previous arrest, released by police.