The Place Where Ludington Talks
Midland Sheriff Does the Right Thing-- Two Weeks Late
Midland County Sheriff Scott Stephenson did a dumb thing on the second day of rifle hunting season while at a deer camp. He decided to tell us about it late yesterday in an Undated Media Release :
"On Friday November 16th, 2018 I was arrested in Kalkaska County for Operating while Intoxicated.
The reason for sharing this is to first say that I am sorry, to take responsibility for the mistake I made as well as to make sure there are no misunderstandings about the incident.
On the morning of November 16th, I was at a deer camp in Kalkaska County, MI. While at deer camp I consumed alcohol. I left deer camp in my car to get cell phone reception.
I felt the alcohol take an effect while driving. I pulled over to the side of the road to attempt to get service for the camp to pick me up. I received no answer and decided to wait. A passerby called the Sheriff’s Office and a Deputy from Kalkaska County arrived at the scene. I was arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated.
It is my intention to go into court and plead guilty. I am accepting responsibility for my poor choice and will comply with the court’s orders and recommendations. I have also sought the advice of a counselor to determine if this was an isolated incident, or if there are other issues I need to address.
On November 16th, I failed to hold myself to the standards to which I have set for myself. I am embarrassed, ashamed and deeply regret the decision to consume alcohol and drive. My poor decision affects not only myself, but my family, the Midland County Sheriff’s Office and my constituents. I will accept full responsibility for my decision that day. No one else is responsible.
Sincerely,
Sheriff Scott Stephenson"
That's him in the red D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) shirt above, perhaps doing his best to prove that those who cannot do, teach. You'll see him in his best sheriff's uniform when you look at the media who have ran with this man's press release such as the following eight sources with the same old story working off the sheriff's apology for being caught two weeks ago and only recognizing and being contrite for that fact two Thursday's later:
His admission is not on his MCSO website's media releases and it hasn't reached their Facebook page. Don't forget that if this was you or I, an unflattering mug shot taken on the day of arrest may very well be splattered across the internet and print media rather than a picture showing him in his glory of being a sheriff. Those are the only pictures you will find in those media reports. The Ludington Torch likes showing hypocrisy among public officials when they get caught, however, so we will only show his D.A.R.E. photos.
A few years back when a Kalkaska County Commissioner was caught driving super-drunk by the same county sheriffs, the media had his name out later that day, not more than two weeks later. They would surely notice who they were dealing with here, however, they decided to keep it under wraps until after Sheriff Stephenson could frame his story with a news release showing how apologetic he was-- two weeks late and without any penalty beyond the genuine public humiliation he should have received two weeks ago while in the Kalkaska drunk tank.
Sadly, current Kalkaska Sheriff Dave Israel may have a soft spot for drunk drivers after his son, Frank Israel, rolled over his vehicle shortly after 4 AM back in 2013. Three hours later, this minor blew 0.14 after never being tested at the scene, and was eventually given a slap on the wrist by the system, with the arraignment and sentencing happening when the public was not allowed into the courthouse. Good new for him, since he seems to have later become a corrections officer for the county sheriff ran by his dad.
Let's hope the Midland County voters in 2020 remember his secret-keeping and late hypocritical apology at the next election, if not before.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Freedom Seeker on
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Stephenson's letter seems humble, and glad he apologized, but it probably took two weeks with intense pressure to write the letter. I hope cops better realize how easy it is to be human and give grace more often than turkeys (besides turkeys are against contribution laws, aren't they, if given out of taxpayer monies). How many cops are giving turkeys out of their own salaries?
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Permalink Reply by XLFD on
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The news release oozes humility, but I find it hard to believe it took him two weeks of soul-searching to find it in his heart to come clean. The most likely scenario is that others had become aware of the incident and were going to bring it to a less favorable light than what he could frame with this release, and show that he and the Kalkaska Sheriff were covering the information up for weeks.
Had Sheriff Stephenson composed a sincere letter when he was in the drunk tank sobering up and issued it within 48 hours of his jail release, I would think of it as sincere and meaningful. The news release he put out was just self-serving, in my honest opinion, and opens up one to consider various points like the six Willy brings forth. I also have a hard time believing that his version of events is accurate and complete; it's as holey as the Shroud of Turin.
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Holey, and wholly, holy fake as the shroud of Turin, carbon dated to 1390 A.D.
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Well we could look at it this way. Who is this rouge deputy that has the balls to arrest a county sheriff? The sheriff must not know the drunk driving rules as if he had as stated pulled over and waited he should have slid over to the passenger seat and removed the keys from the ignition. You can't be arrested for drunk driving with the car not running. A friend of mine got arrested for the same thing , keys were in the ignition , but he was in the back seat sleeping. Cop said he should have takin the keys out.
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Permalink Reply by Willy on
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I find several things wrong with his letter. 1st, it's 2 weeks late. 2nd, he states he made a mistake. A mistake is something caused that was not intentional. He intentionally made the decision to drive while intoxicated. 3rd, Why is the sheriff in an area out of cell phone range when he is fully responsible for law enforcement in his county. Has he not heard of satellite phones which are common in hunting and fishing camps in Canada. 4th, a passerby called the Kalkaska sherii's department. How did that happen? He needs to explain that. 5th, he sought the advice of a counselor to determine if {this} was an isolated incident. Does counselor mean attorney or shrink? He needs to explain what that statement means. 6th, he said he failed to hold himself to the standards he set for himself. Wrong answer. He failed to hold himself to the dictates of the law. I have nothing against the guy but in my opinion his letter is full of B.S.
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