June 15, 2017

Contact: Lt. Andrew Turner, 517-284-4747

DNR conservation officers arrest Shiawassee County man on felony charges

Large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosive components seized

Conservation officers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement Division arrested a Rush Township resident Wednesday on a four-count felony warrant issued in the Shiawassee County District Court.

William Frank Fisher, 73, of Owosso was wanted on two counts of obstructing an officer and two counts of felonious assault. He was arraigned today in district court. Bond was set at $25,000. Fisher’s next court appearance is scheduled for 10 a.m. June 21.

The assault charges are punishable by up to four years in prison and a $2,000 fine, or both, and the obstruction charges carry a two-year prison term and/or a $2,000 fine. If convicted, Fisher would be subject to sentencing as a habitual offender.

The charges against Fisher stem from a May 21 incident when he threatened and obstructed conservation officers in the performance of their duties. Officers had gone to Fisher’s home to investigate a complaint of a deer possibly taken unlawfully.

“The suspect lifted a patrol truck off the ground with a tractor and swung a tire iron or crowbar around in a threatening manner,” said Lt. Andrew Turner, of the DNR’s 8th District in Lansing.

Turner said Conservation Officers Jason King and Robert Slick were interviewing Fisher’s grandson as part of their investigation of the illegal deer kill when Fisher obstructed and threatened officers.

Investigation revealed the deer had been struck by a car and the grandson humanely dispatched it. No enforcement action on the deer complaint was taken.

King and Slick, assisted by members of the Michigan State Police fugitive and emergency services teams, arrested Fisher at about 9 a.m. Wednesday as he was leaving his home in a vehicle.

“Assaults against our officers are something that we take very seriously and will not be tolerated,” said Captain David Malloch, field operations coordinator for the DNR Law Enforcement Division’s Region 2.

Items found during his arrest, and statements made after his arrest, led officers to seek a search warrant for Fisher’s home.

A search warrant was authorized. A search of the suspect’s home resulted in the discovery of 25 firearms, a large amount of ammunition and reloading equipment, and unlawful explosive components.

Fisher has a prior felony criminal conviction record in Shiawassee County, dating back to 1995, for delivery and manufacturing a controlled substance and receiving and concealing stolen property.

As a convicted felon, the possession of firearms, coupled with the possession of unlawful explosive components, will likely result in additional felony charges for Fisher, Turner said.

Officers from the Michigan Department of Corrections Absconder Unit and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the search.

Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned state peace officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect citizens by providing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve.

Learn more about Michigan conservation officers at www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.