CALHOUN COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Wednesday, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office made a statement on the recent arrest of a black man in Springfield that occurred on January 2.
The office noted that the incident was recorded and uploaded to YouTube by a private citizen.
In the video, both the man in question and the person recording the video said that he was collecting signatures for a petition, and was not asking for money.
In the video statement, which can be viewed on Facebook, Sheriff Steve Hinkley said police had received a call about possible soliciting.
“Two Calhoun County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a neighborhood where a caller had reported a suspicious person that was possibly soliciting,” Sheriff Hinkley said. “Although that caller’s initial thought that that activity was illegal, when the deputy made contact with the individual in this case, it appears he may have been acting on ordinances that were valid in other communities, and not this particular community.”
Hinkley confirmed that a preliminary review of the video has taken place.
“I want to be clear, we hold all Calhoun County Sheriff’s Deputies to a high standard,” Hinkley said. “We are very proud of our integrity and our values at this office. We’re very proud of our relationships with our communities and our community partners. I would ask that our community allow us and show us patience and respect during this investigation process.”
He also confirmed that the deputy involved in this case has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation, but did not specify which.
“We will continue working through this investigation, and we will continue to keep the community informed,” Hinkley said.
Battle Creek city officials confirmed with WKZO that the video the department was referring to is located at this link.
Later on Wednesday, WOOD TV 8 confirmed the identity of the man arrested as La-Ron Marshall, who is now asking for an apology.
