Chippewa County Sheriff's Office

06/05/2026

***Update 6/5/26 @ 2100 hrs***

Telephone carriers have reported that services for calling 911 have been restored. Preliminary testing has confirmed this. 911 operations have returned to normal.

If you continue to experience problems with normal telecommunication issues aside from calling 911, please contact your service provide for additional information.

Thank you to our EMS and Fire Fighters for staffing their halls during this outage.

****************************************
Chippewa County Central Dispatch is aware of an intermittent and widespread phone outage affecting the South and East sides of the county.

Due to this outage, some citizens may experience degraded service or no service at all.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have communicated with the first responder agencies in those locations to assist with emergency notifications and emergency service requests. Should you find yourself unable to access 911, you may go to your nearest Fire/EMS Hall. These locations will be staffed 24/7, and responders will be able to relay your emergency to the dispatch center by radio.

The communications carrier has advised that additional resources are en route to troubleshoot and repair. There has been no ETA provided.

We will update as we receive additional information.

06/01/2026

More information on our new youth program.

Undersheriff Ryan Hering said the new effort formalizes years of informal community work by Erica Mattson, who will lead the program as it expands opportunities for positive interactions between youth and public safety workers

06/01/2026

This is so important for all of our first responders.

Please take of yourself.

June is National PTSD Awareness Month. This is a time to honor resilience, break stigma, and stand with those affected. Let’s raise awareness, advocate for care, and build understanding across our communities.

06/01/2026

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT TRAINING
(MSU Extension and CCSO)

I was requested to bring the trailer for a presentation for foster parents and employees this past Friday, 5-29-2026.

Agencies represented included Chippewa MDHHS, Sault Tribe Sault and Manistique ACFS/Binogii Placement Agency, Bay Mills Social Services, and UP Kids from the Western and Eastern End of the U.P, along with those amazing foster parents.

I gave a presentation and then they had the opportunity to search the trailer. It was a great afternoon and the training was well received.

Big thank you to the Elks for hosting the training.

Michael D. Bitnar
Chippewa Co Sheriff

05/28/2026

Bring the entire family out for this community event. Boaters safety is very important, especially for those with children.

05/27/2026

TRIDENT ARRESTS (Methamphetamine and Crack Co***ne)

On May 26th, 2026, Trident concluded an ongoing narcotics investigation. Trident had information that large amounts of Methamphetamine was being smuggled into the area.

In the early morning hours of May 26th Chippewa County Sheriff's Office and Sault Tribe PD stopped a suspect vehicle.

Three subjects were in the vehicle. Ultimately they were found to be in possession of ounces of Methamphetamine and crack co***ne.

ARRESTED

- Patricia Ellen Hurt, 60 yr old Dafter resident
- PWID of Methamphetamine
- Possession of Crack Co***ne
- Conspiracy to Deliver Methamphetamine
- 4th Habitual Offender

- Dawson Eugene Rolph-Ripley, 23 yr old Sault resident
- Delivery of Methamphetamine, stemming from a separate investigation.

On 5-27-2026 Patricia Hurt and Dawson Rolph-Ripley were arraigned in the 91st Dist court.

The other subject was not arraigned as further investigation and evidence will be submitted to the prosecutor for their review. We certainly believe all three will receive charges resulting from this investigation.

A search warrant was conducted on the vehicle and additional evidence was seized including U.S. currency. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

If you have information you would like to report to Trident please call the Office/Tipline: 906-635-6387.
OR
Go to the Sheriff's App and go to Submit-a-Tip and select Trident.

05/27/2026

Upcoming Training Opportunity.

For more information, click on the link below.

https://teex.org/class/mgt303/

05/27/2026

The Chippewa County Sheriff's Office is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative designed to bring Chippewa County youth and local first responders together. The Purpose of this fund is to foster trust, learning, and meaningful relationships within our community.

Through mentorship opportunities, hands-on activities, and community projects, this initiative will help young people see first responders as approachable role models while giving first responders the opportunity to connect with youth in positive, everyday settings. Together, these experiences will build bridges that strengthen safety, respect, and understanding throughout our community.

The fund is established through the Chippewa County Community Foundation and operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable fund.

Community member Erica Mattson, a strong advocate for both youth and first responders, will lead this initiative. Erica has successfully organized several community projects that bring youth and first responders together, and this fund will allow those efforts to continue and expand through additional financial support.

If you would like to donate to the fund or have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

You can donate at chippewacountycommunityfoundation.org or the QR code below.

05/25/2026

05/21/2026

JOINT PRESS RELEASE
-CHIPPEWA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
-SAULT STE MARIE PD

Late last fall Sault Ste Marie PD received a delayed missing person’s complaint. Sault Pd and CCSO received information and followed the evidence to a remote location north of Paradise MI, in Chippewa County.

The subject’s vehicle was located stuck and out of view off a two-track road. It was found that the person had most likely been missing for approximately a month.

CCSO and SPD immediately started a ground search of the area and flew a CCSO drone. Unfortunately, there was already a layer of snow in the area and within a short time winter hit and the location was no longer accessible.

The past several months our agencies have been planning a spring search.

Our S&R team put together a comprehensive map including many search zones within our search area.

The location we were planning to search included an area of approximately 1000 acres. This search area was located on state land and surrounded by several thousand more acres of state land which included ridges, swamp lands and ponds.

We started the search by using the MSP aviation unit last week as they flew a helicopter and a drone to search the area from above.
Over this past weekend 4 k-9 (HRD) Cadaver teams, to search the area prior to the ground search.

This past Monday (May 18th) our large-scale ground search started, involving many of our law enforcement partners. Approximately 35 Law Enforcement and search and rescue members were involved. A command center was established, and a briefing was conducted early Monday morning. The ground search started shortly after. Bmpd K-9 and MSP K-9 units assisted both Monday and Tuesday.

Monday resulted in the finding of some crucial evidence which was located deep into the wooded area.

The ground search continued early Tuesday morning.

Tuesday resulted in the discovery of human remains which were also located deep into the wooded area.

We requested the MSP crime lab, and they responded to the scene. The Northern Michigan University (NMU) Frost Anthropology unit was also called to assist.

The search continued Wednesday and by the evening all resources were cleared of the area.

We are waiting for forensic confirmation on the identity of the victim.

The following agencies assisted in the week-long search:
- Sault Ste Marie PD
- Chippewa Co Sheriff’s Office
- MSP, Aviation, K-9, Crime lab
- Bay Mills Tribal PD
- Trident
- MI DNR
- U.S. Border Patrol
- U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP)
- USFS LE
- MI SAR
- NMU FROST
- Chippewa County Central Dispatch and Emergency Management

A huge thank you to all of them and our Victim Services Unit (VSU) who supplied our searchers with food during the ground search.

This case is still open pending further investigation.

Michael D. Bitnar Chief Wes Bierling
Chippewa Co Sheriff Sault Ste Marie PD