Man Opens Fire On Trooper, Then Kills Himself

HOUGHTON LAKE, MI — A trooper was shot during a traffic stop in Lake Township and the alleged gunman is dead, the Michigan State Police have confirmed. The officer was conducting a traffic stop in Missaukee County July 13 on a vehicle with two men and a woman inside when one of the men fled from the vehicle and opened fire on the Houghton Lake Post trooper.

The trooper was reportedly struck several times with non-life threatening injuries. The reported gunman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after exchanging gunfire the trooper, police said.

The 32-year-old Fenton man was identified as Douglas Robert Sawyer. Sawyer had prior arrests for home invasion, drug crimes, and weapons violations. At the time of this incident, the Parole Absconder had three valid warrants for his arrest, police said.

One was a Parole Absconder warrant resulting from his failure to comply with parole after a prison sentence for Home Invasion. The second was a felony warrant for Criminal Sexual Assault 4th Degree out of the Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post. The third was a civil warrant for child neglect.

"The Houghton Lake State Police Post is very happy to report our Trooper has been released from the hospital after being treated for non-life-threatening gunshot injuries," Michigan State Police said Monday morning. "He is resting with the support of family and friends. The Houghton Lake State Police Posts thanks the community and law enforcement partners for the outpouring of prayers, support, and well-wishes."

The two other occupants of the vehicle are in police custody and the incident remains under investigation.

Image via Shutterstock

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