Stand-off suspects arraigned

Stand-off suspects arraigned

LUDINGTON — The three suspects involved in a police stand-off Sunday have been arraigned. On Sunday, Feb. 5, Mason County sheriff’s deputies and Michigan State Police troopers negotiated with the three suspects for an hour before they were arrested in the 7800 block of East Chickasaw Trail, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.

The suspects were arraigned this afternoon in Mason County’s 79th District Court. They include Margaret Sweet, 66, of Scottville, Kurstin Sumner, 38, of Branch, and Carl Herring, 32, of Baldwin.

Deputies and troopers were called to the scene shortly after 12:30 p.m. “regarding a reported assault and a man with a gun call,” said Sheriff Cole.

Sweet

“Law enforcement arrived on scene and found the front door of the residence in question standing open, however, no one was located on the property. From past contacts with the residence, law enforcement knew of a red Dodge Charger that was associated with the home and a ‘Be on the Lookout’ was issued to the surrounding areas.

“At around 4:45 p.m., law enforcement in the area spotted a red Dodge Charger pull into the driveway of the residence in question. Deputies and troopers attempted to call the occupants of the vehicle out of the car, however, two refused to exit, while the driver exited and started swearing at, and demanding law enforcement leave. The Mason-Oceana 911 center made calls into the suspect vehicle attempting to get the occupants to exit the car, however, they refused those requests as well.”

After an hour of talking with them, the suspects were taken into custody. 

Sweet was arraigned on the felony charges of possession of methamphetamine/ecstacy and habitual offender fourth offense. She additionally faces probation violation charges. Her bond was set at $10,000 and she is scheduled for a preliminary examination in district court on Feb. 22 at 1:30 p.m. 

Herring

Sumner was arraigned on the felony charge of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer. Her bond was set at $5,000 and she is scheduled for a preliminary examination on Feb. 22 at 1:30 p.m. 

Herring was also arraigned on assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer and also habitual offender fourth offense. His bond was set at $10,000 and he also is schedule for a preliminary examination on Feb. 22 at 1:30 p.m. 

Sweet and Herring both have extensive criminal records.

Sweet, who’s last known address was on North US 31 in Sherman Township, was convicted on Sept. 13, 2022 on the charge of possession of methamphetamine/ecstasy and was sentenced to a maximum of 166 days in jail with credit for 166 days served, along with two years probation. An additional charge of maintaining a drug house was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. She was scheduled to appear in 51st Circuit Court Monday morning on a parole violation arraignment. 

Sumner

The charges stemmed from a March 3, 2020 arrest by Ludington Police Department. 

Court records show that she was also charged on Feb. 4, 2022 by Ludington Police Department and arraigned on the felonies of delivering/manufacturing methamphetamine and habitual offender fourth offense, were dismissed on May 25, 2022, according to court records. 

On Oct. 14, 2022, Sweet was charged for absconding from her probation. 

Other offenses on her criminal record include uttering and publishing in 2008, home invasion second degree in 2003, illegal use of a financial transaction device in 2009 and possession of narcotics/cocaine in 2018. 

Herring’s record includes four convictions of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, most recently in 2022, breaking and entering in 2014, possession of narcotics/cocaine in 2014, and breaking and entering in 2006. 

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