August 2, 2024

👮🏻 Dispatch Blotter Highlights 🚔 Issue #112 Suspicious Vehicle: Driver was just sitting and reading, will be moving along

Also, this week: Watching Netflix in a baseball field, many political signs stolen, stolen pints of cider, and suspicious campaigners

Welcome to A Most Unreliable Narrator, the slice-of-life newsletter of GenXer around town, Lisa Rabey. I talk about anything and everything with a bit of swears. I’m glad you’re here.

Leelanau Enterprise, a weekly newspaper in Leelanau County, publishes the dispatch calls to 911 in every issue with additional reporting by The Ticker.

These are the highlights.

These are all real calls.

Tuesday, July 16

8:41pm 7/16/2024 Info Glen Arbor Twp., Wife witnessed a male on the other side of the closed gate on their property, he was pouring out gasoline. After she asked what he was doing, he left in his white SUV.

11:36pm 7/16/2024 Suspicious Incident Lake Leelanau, Caller’s woodshed was set on fire, saw a truck driving away as they ran outside to put out the fire. 

Wednesday, July 17

2:39pm 7/17/2024 Citizen Assist Leelanau Cty., Returned from walking on the beach, is now missing his truck, GMC Sierra, gray. Said his dog was inside. Called back, he located his truck. It was much farther down the road than he thought.

6:11 p.m. — Kasson Township Individual rolling in his wheelchair eastbound on Burdickville Road. Concerned for his welfare. Would like assistance getting him back.

7:50 p.m. — Solon Township Suspicious vehicle near the church baseball field. (People watching Netflix and hanging after work.)

9:19 p.m. — Elmwood Township Individual walking up and down the road. Walking in the woods on private property.

Thursday, July 18

12:33 a.m. — Leland Township People running around on the lodge roof. Caller saw two lights from phone screens. Possibly kids that were playing soccer about an hour ago. Four subject. Minors in possession issue.

10:17am 7/18/2024 Info Cleveland Twp., Yesterday, excavators speeding down the road. Caller talked to the company and asked them to slow down and a tiff ensued. Contractor called his boss and said the neighbor is now blocking access to the construction site. Excavator is the one being harassed by subjects. Spoke with all parties. Caller thinks the trucks should go slower. The contractor says his trucks are going below the posted speed limit of 40 mph. Caller wasn't happy and departed.

11:45 a.m. — Leelanau Township Caller says his son became unruly. Was arguing with family and at one point brandished a piece of pipe. No direct threats, department. Caller would like to speak with law enforcement about options.

3:42pm 7/18/2024 Lost Property Suttons Bay Twp., Lost wallet sometime today. States her car was locked, but she came back to it unlocked and wallet missing. 

6:21am 7/19/2024 Suspicious Incident Maple City, Caller said that subject was running along road in Maple City, someone had threatened him there this morning and he ran off.

8:16 p.m.— Bingham Township Caller as been trying to reach niece since 2 p.m. She usually answers the phone. (Dispatchers made contact. Asked her to call her aunt to let her know everything is fine.)

9:17 p.m. — Leland Township Woman driving on M-22 noticed a large water trampoline was floating toward the middle of the lake. Noted that no one was on the trampoline and no one was in distress in the water. Just wanted to let law enforcement know.

10:47 p.m. — Elmwood Township Caller reports someone removed her political signs. She does not know who did it. But would like to see an officer.

Friday, July 19

2:54pm 7/19/2024 Neighbor Cedar, Ongoing harassment with one of the members in their HOA, screaming, yelling, threatening, multiple people in the neighborhood. 

9:28 p.m. — Cleveland Township Caller reports dad and sister are at someone’s apartment. Everyone is intoxicated. Sister locked herself in room and is refusing to leave. She also has her dad’s car keys with her. Dad is wanting to leave but cannot. (No one leaving due to intoxication levels.)

10:28 p.m. — Cleveland Township Caller advised horse is always on his property and he’s getting tired of it and would like to speak with animal control.

Saturday, July 20

11:04 p.m. — Bingham Township Caller reports underage individuals are attempting to drink and they are getting agitated when they have been told they can’t.

11:22pm 7/20/2024 911 Hangup Maple City, Female answered and stated “I don’t know how you got called” then she stated she could not be on the phone right now and hung up. A child was crying in the background. 

Sunday, July 21

1:10 p.m. — Empire Township Caller is following vehicle with female and children swerving all over the road. Red/burgundy Subaru Forester.

4:42 p.m. — Leland Township Caller is upset. There are people being loud on boats anchored in Lake Leelanau just south of Clay Cliffs area. Believe that this area was protected somehow from these kinds of disturbances and that there is a Leland ordinance about noises. Caller also believes there may be underage drinking.

7:57pm 7/21/2024 Suspicious Incident Suttons Bay Twp., Caller is reporting a father and his daughter sitting on the bench. The daughter is crying saying she doesn’t want to get punished and the caller thinks it is an “ugly” scene. Nothing suspicious, everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.

9:41 p.m. — Suttons Bay Township Caller reports hearing a child screaming at neighbor’s house.

Monday, July 22

10:01 a.m. — Leland Township Stolen campaign signs.

5:57 p.m. — Leelanau Township Thirty minutes ago, parent was leaving for Leland with kids playing outside. Two boys. Now, not there. Neither has phone. No cameras outline. Checked the school playground. (Parent called back and advised the kids were found. They were hiding in the garage. Playing a prank on dad.)

7:51 p.m. — Glen Arbor Township Youths throwing rocks at the Sleeping Bear Inn sign. Parents were rude and did not take responsibility for the situation.

9:31 p.m. — Leelanau Township Caller lost iPhone in marina bathroom.

9:57 p.m. — Kasson Township Family trouble. Parties will be separating for the night.

Tuesday, July 23

12:45 a.m. — Centerville Township Neighbors are playing loud music. Keeping granddaughter awake. Caller does not to be seen. (Deputy checked out. Heard nothing.)

2:54pm 7/23/2024 Animal Control S West Bay Shore Dr., Knows a breeder. Wants to know if they're legit

Wednesday, July 24

7:44 a.m. — Suttons Bay Township Two vans in beach parking lot. Campers told to move on.

2 p.m. — Leelanau Township Caller requests more patrols in the area due to people consistently blowing through the stop sign.

5:00pm 7/24/2024 Threats Lake Leelanau, 2 people threatening him over TikTok messaging stating he’s going to come to his house this weekend and take matters into his own hands.

Thursday, July 25

3:25 p.m. — Empire Township Caller has binoculars. Can see two kayakers in the bay. No signs of distress. About one mile off shore. Can’t tell what color the kayaks are. Looks like they are heading to Pyramid Point, but have turned around. (Park ranger checked on subjects. They were fine.)

6:49 p.m. — Bingham Township Caller had incident nine days ago. Individual showed up at her house stating he had driven his moped from Grand Traverse County to Lake Leelanau. But ran out of fuel. Caller allowed him to use her phone to call for a ride. Left his moped, jackets and helmet at her house and would like to know what she can legally do to remove them from her property.

7:38 p.m. — Elmwood Township Two black cows running in the neighborhood. (Law enforcement not seeing any cows. Also spoke with the owner, still trying to locate. Cows are back where they belong.)

7:42pm 7/25/2024 Driveoff Glen Arbor Twp., Caller is reporting a driveoff, white male, black hat, blue sunglasses.

8:28pm 7/25/2024 Traffic Violation Glen Arbor, Caller reporting she served man a pint of cider and the man then left in a Dodge Ram with the pint of cider north out of Glen Arbor.

10:32pm 7/25/2024 Suspicious Incident Suttons Bay Twp., Son said there is someone outside with a pocket knife. He advised the caller that he was pulled “out of sight” and the man put the knife to his throat. Suspect may have left in a gold van, unknown what direction. Trying to get some video footage from the maintenance building. Spoke with all parties and reviewed the surveillance, incident is unfounded at this time.

Friday, July 26

12:55pm 7/26/2024 Larceny Glen Arbor Twp., Political sign stolen last night. Ongoing problem in the area.

2:40 p.m. — Bingham Township Someone stole election signs for Trump. Signs put up yesterday.

11:26pm 7/26/2024 Suspicious Vehicle S West-Bay Shore Dr., Called out with a sus vehicle at Greilckville Harbor Park. Driver was just sitting and reading, will be moving along.

Saturday, July 27

11:47am 7/27/2024 Citizen Assist Suttons Bay Twp., Received a citation last night, says it is unreadable.

12:59pm 7/27/2024 Traffic Violation Northport, Parking lot, man in white mini truck yelling at caller because he was driving slow. Swerving at caller. Caller in white Subaru out at residence. Individual was uncooperative with any information. Will continue to patrol around town.

1:20 p.m. — Elmwood Township Two males parked in roadway and are playing basketball in the private court. Would like them checked on. (Law enforcement patrolled the area. Checked the basketball. Unable to locate subjects.)

3:58 p.m. —Glen Arbor Township Sunfish going toward the island. Three boys, 18-year-old experienced with sunfish. Can’t get them back in. From Glen Haven can see a sunfi sh in the bay, but cannot tell if people are on board or in the water. Park Service en route. Parents received a text and a picture from a good Samaritan on South Manitou Island who reported that the youths are safe on shore. Glen Fire Boat picked up the youth on the island and returned them to the mainland.

Sunday, July 28

1:20am 7/28/2024 Noise Cedar, Loud party just south of caller. Party agreed to turn down the music. 

11:20am 7/28/2024 Citizen Assist Suttons Bay Twp., Had mail taken from mailbox on Thursday. Has happened throughout neighborhood. Had confirmation for delivery but no package. Packaging for clothing littered​​ the street. Picked it up. Spoke with caller. Because the property was inside the mailbox it is a US Postal Service issue. 

11:28 a.m. — Leland Township Two boats trespassing illegally at caller’s private dock. Contact made. He walked into Peddling Beans and is now on his way back to get his point.

12:45pm 7/29/2024 Road Hazard Northport, Caller reporting an individual piling cow manure up close to the stop sign at this intersection, she thinks that it is within the county roads rights. 

6:26 p.m. — Leland Township Female, 26, without personal flotation device, is 500 yards from shore. (One kayak. One paddle board — not in distress.) Paddleboarder made it to shore.

7:15 p.m. — Leland Township Caller sold a bike on Facebook Marketplace and previously someone else was interested in the bike but never responded back to message. Now the previous person said he was driving up to get the bike but found out it was sold and is threatening to show up and caller’s house and beat him up.

Monday, July 29

2:55 p.m. — Elmwood Township Homeowner dealing with campaigner acting in a suspicious manner. (Law enforcement reached out to political party and they verified he was legit.)

4:21pm 7/29/2024 Animal Control Bingham Twp., Caller is reporting a breeder who seems to be “over-breeding” dogs. She is concerned with the multitude of litters he has been selling.

6:03 p.m. — Leelanau Township Caller was scammed out of $10,000 over the past two years.

(Fuck fascists and Nazis!)

You've just finished reading A Most Unreliable Narrator: the slice of life newsletter from the GenXer about town, Lisa Rabey. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky if you're so inclined. I am everywhere. Copyright © 1996 - 2025 by Lisa Rabey