Ancient Seven-Ski Inn Owner Took Down by Trespassing Troopers

[XLFD]

An upstanding, venerable business owner wonders what Michigan State Police (MSP) were doing on a couple of lots he owned.  The 83 year old man gets taken down with force for allegedly not listening to commands, gets knocked unconscious and suffers broken bones, a broken nose, and road rash from the encounter. 

Here's the kicker:  the MSP are trying to charge this man with assaultive behavior, there is no internal investigation into the troopers' behavior, and this old beaten-up codger is hopeful that footage from his cameras will reveal his version of events which has him innocent of wrongdoing.  The Traverse City Record Eagle reports:

A Ticket, A Takedown

83-year-old man injured in scuffle with troopers

TRAVERSE CITY — Larry Dale Sevenski took calls from his Petoskey hospital room as he considered what his next days will entail.

Will he return to his Elmira home, or have to turn himself in to Antrim County's jail?

Sevenski, 83, could face a criminal charge after a March 17 altercation with a Michigan State Police trooper that left him hospitalized with a broken arm.

The incident began when troopers stopped Sevenski at the corner of Thumm Road and U.S. 131 in Antrim County, MSP Lt. Mark Harris said. He climbed out of his car and "aggressively" walked toward troopers' patrol car. He didn't listen when troopers told him to return to his car.

"At that point the subject became more assaultive in his behavior, and as a result was subdued and taken to the ground," Harris said. "And unfortunately that's where the injuries occurred to Mr. Sevenski."

The 83-year-old was left with a bloody nose, pain in his right arm, and a ticket for failing to signal, Harris said. Paramedics treated him at the scene and took him to McLaren Northern Michigan hospital in Petoskey.

Sevenski said he went unconscious during the incident and was left with an arm broken in two places. He balked at Harris' description of the late-night stop.

He said he drove from his tavern on March 17 because he wanted to talk to the troopers he heard were gathered at the lot he owns nearby.

"I wasn't assaultive," Sevenski said. "I'm almost 84 years old. Why would I try to take on an officer half my age? ... I know better than that."

Harris contended there are more variables to the story than Sevenski's age.

Troopers requested Antrim County Prosecutor James Rossiter authorize a resisting and obstructing charge against Sevenski — they dictated so on the ticket they wrote him on March 17, in which they indicated "driver will also be charged with R&O police officer as part of this incident."

Harris declined to describe Sevenski's behavior until Rossiter decides whether to charge him. Rossiter, through Antrim County legal secretary Debra Ho'on, said he was not available for comment.

There is no investigation into troopers' behavior during the stop.

"There is no evidence at this point of any wrongdoing," Harris said. "The troopers appeared to have acted within our policies, within the law."

Sevenski said trail cameras near his parking lot may shed more light on the incident.

"It might not be excessive to them but it sure was to me, or else I wouldn’t have ended up in the hospital."

This, if proven to have the MSP in the role of bad actors, and many other similar "Real Stories of the Michigan Highway Patrol" in the news of recent, should make you consider whether it is in our Michigander's best interests to have a police agency that polices itself (and does so badly) that has zero accountability and little knowledge (and often littler regard) for the local areas they patrol.  We elect county sheriffs, we have city and township council hold control over their police, but nobody oversees the MSP other than itself.

[shinblind]

Deirdre is MIA  

Are the MSP informed of this situation?  

Have they organize a search party?  

Rounded up the usual suspects?

Will we be holding a memorial service after an appropriate amount of time?

Refreshments afterwards?

[XLFD]

Deirdre left and took her perspective with her, which is unfortunate, I always appreciate alternate views, even when I find the position untenable. 

When you leave the Ludington Torch it offers you the ability to tell the administrators why you left.  Dierdre left by saying simply:  "a very closed minded group that can't handle any other perspective or opinion than their own."

Finally we agree on something; that perfectly describes the Michigan State Police.

[AQUAMAN]

That is very true X, and the fact that Deidre did NOT answer my basic, simplistic, and reasonable questions makes her ENTIRE CASE for innocence by her SON INVALID, and a very big lie! She just helps the LE continue into more Secrecy and Illegal Actions, now, and into the future. Sad, but that is what Mom's do these days, don't punish kids when young to teach them the difference between right and wrong, spoiled kids that get their way all the time, without ANY PUNISHMENT AT ALL! NOW she acts in collusion with ILLEGAL ACTS, and doesn't even care!!!

[shinblind]

Last report I heard about the SOM vs Sevenski trial is that Government keeps postponing the trial.

They postponed in May for the month.

They postponed in June for the month.

Maybe in July?

Personally I believe that they hope the 84 year old Sevenski dies before this case is ever brought to trial.