FBI joins Washtenaw County police agencies in vehicle shooting investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting Washtenaw County police agencies in the investigation into three vehicle shootings reported Monday evening, an official confirmed Wednesday.
A meeting about the three incidents was held Wednesday morning involving Pittsfield Township police investigators, Michigan State Police troopers, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office deputies and FBI agents. Simon Shaykhet, public affairs specialist with the FBI’s Detroit division, confirmed the agency’s involvement Wednesday.
“The FBI is working this matter in partnership with local, county, state and federal agencies,” he said in an email.
Courtesy of Pittsfield Township police
Officials from the various agencies met at the Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety Wednesday. It wasn’t immediately clear what came out of the meeting.
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Geoffrey Fox confirmed deputies were involved in the meeting. State police troopers are investigating the incidents in Bridgewater Township, where the sheriff’s office shares jurisdiction with the state police.
Fox said the shootings may not be investigated by the sheriff’s office directly, but officials need to be aware of what’s happening.
“The reality is it’s happening in our county,” he said. “Whether we’re handling the alleged incidents, we need to be aware of what’s happening in our county.”
Officials and members of the community are on alert after two previous separate incidents of people shooting at cars made headlines in the past six months.
Raulie Casteel was arrested for allegedly shooting at 24 vehicles in the Interstate 96 corridor in October, injuring one person. Casteel is facing a multitude of criminal charges, including terrorism counts. His case is headed toward trial.
More recently, Elmore Ray was arrested last month after allegedly firing a sawed-off shotgun at vehicles on U.S. 23. He’s lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail and is awaiting a competency hearing.
Michigan State Police investigators told AnnArbor.com Wednesday that a report of a fourth shooting Tuesday evening was not true.
A driver was eastbound on Interstate 94 when a rear window in her vehicle shattered. It was initially feared that the window was shot out, but police determined that wasn’t the case.
The vehicle has since been released and there is no criminal investigation into the incident. Police said Wednesday they don’t know for certain what broke the window.
Anyone with information on Monday’s shootings is encouraged to call the Pittsfield Township police at 734-822-4911, the Michigan State Police Brighton Post at 810-227-1051 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP (773-2587).
View Vehicle shootings in a larger map
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
G-Man
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 9:56 p.m.
How do these vehicles shoot? That's what i want to know....
Joslyn at the U
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 11:12 p.m.
Haven't you seen Death Race???
Joslyn at the U
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 11:11 p.m.
Its secret agent technology. Shhhhhhh its top secret lol
rsa221
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 8:43 p.m.
Guns make us safer?
Joslyn at the U
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 11:09 p.m.
Actually the do :) I luvvvvv my guns
motorcycleminer
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 8:08 p.m.
Gang initiation....wait and see...
Jami Lippens
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 7:36 p.m.
My guess it's a couple of bored (and really dumb) teenagers.
Billy
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 6:25 p.m.
I'm glad the FBI are involved in the case now. They absolutely MUST catch people that do stuff like this...otherwise it'll just encourage the OTHER crazies to go out and try it too. I wonder if this person was directly influenced by the recent shooting events, to go out and do what they did?
Joslyn at the U
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 6:18 p.m.
They will catch the lunatic ............cant have nutcases running around shooting random folks
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 5:55 p.m.
I mistakenly identified the driver in the shattered window incident from Tuesday as the same person involved in the Pittsfield Township vehicle shooting. I've removed that reference.
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 8:44 p.m.
Good catch, s. I removed your namesake from that word.
s
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 8:30 p.m.
You also identified the FBI incorrectly. It's Federal Bureau of Investigation. Singular.
TheDiagSquirrel
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 5:28 p.m.
Lol @ "working in conjunction". This only means that the FBI is taking this seriously enough to take over the investigation from all the local guys
WalkingJoe
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 11:25 p.m.
a2citizen, I have the highest regard for ALL law enforcement. I believe that Kyle and the rest of us were not making any suggestions, we just were echoing some peoples perceptions that come from the entertainment industry. If you've ever watched any crime drama on tv they always put "The Feds" in a bad light. I don't really believe that at all.
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 9 p.m.
a2citizen - As Buzz stated, the FBI often works with local law enforcement to help solve cases by providing materials and resources that would otherwise not be available. As seen by the story that's been posted this afternoon, Pittsfield and MSP remain in the lead on this case.
Buzz
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 8:54 p.m.
The FBI works great with the local law enforcement agencies.
a2citizen
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 8:36 p.m.
Sorry my humor is out of your box Kyle. So you can insult the feds trying to help, (as you, squirrel and joe, hb) Even going so far as to post a link because of this thread lacks any originality. But everything else is off limits. BTW, since this is how you feel why don't you ask the Saline police, WCSO and any other local authorities how they feel. Ask them off the record to see if they really have bruised egos.
HB11
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 8:16 p.m.
@Kyle- hilarious!
WalkingJoe
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 6:33 p.m.
Just watched the video too. But in this mornings meeting I'd wager nobody said"Oh my God they...Kenny". Anyone who's seen any South Park can fill in the blank.
TheDiagSquirrel
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 5:42 p.m.
Haha, great clip/episode. Too bad government bureaucracies and departments don't move that fast in real life
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 5:33 p.m.
So, TDS, this is basically what you're suggesting the meeting was like this morning? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnlxLCWBgOw