And So It Begins

Its hard not to be suspicious in this new era of selective federal enforcement.

Sheriff Darin LeafI have made the point more than once that your county Sheriff is the ultimate authority as the highest elected law enforcement official in the county.

Sheriffs throughout Michigan have made statements acknowledging this, and further, have pledged to protect the citizens in their counties from otherwise unenforceable actions of the federal government.  Actions which require the participation of the sheriff to even happen. Sheriff Leaf is on the list of those Sheriffs who have pledged their support to the 2nd amendment.

It seems the government doesn’t like the kind of Sheriff who thinks that way however.

Michigan State Police confirm to 24 Hour News 8 that the FBI raided the Barry County Sheriff’s Department.

Four FBI cars were parked outside the Barry County Sheriff’s Office in Hastings Wednesday morning.

But Barry County Sheriff Dar leaf, with his associations might have dropped a bit of a challenge a while back that stuck in someone’s craw.

Comments made by Commissioner Jeff VanNortwick at Tuesday’s Barry County Board of Commissioners meeting have raised interest in the professional associations of Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf.“Is there any reason that taxpayers in this county should become alarmed at all with the aligning of our sheriff with constitutional parties that vow to protect and to hold firearms and to do their own governmental interest similar to what we’re seeing from [Sheriff] Mike Raines over at Eaton County?” asked VanNortwick of Barry County Undersheriff Bob Baker.

Though the question lacked specifics for many, an Internet search of the Raines name leads to a connection to a nationwide organization that purports county sheriffs to be what one website positions as “the last line of defense against an overreaching federal government.”

At least 160 sheriffs are believed to be part of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, which held national conferences in Las Vegas in January and September of this year. Raines and Leaf are said to be the only two sheriffs from Michigan who attended. Leaf attended both conferences, Raines the first. “

Its said there are computers being removed , and there is an investigation for fraud. Comment speculation is that surplus military vehicles located at the Sheriff’s department might be the source of the problem, and the FBI is not issuing any statements as yet.

Stay tuned.

You Betcha! (5)Nuh Uh.(3)

  10 comments for “And So It Begins

  1. Sarah
    March 12, 2014 at 7:26 pm

    In Gladwin County the highest law enforcement official is the prosecuting attorney!?

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    • Jason
      March 12, 2014 at 8:19 pm

      I guess it depends on who you talk to (Prosecutor will disagree)

      The issue really comes down to jurisdiction.

      You Betcha! (0)Nuh Uh.(0)
    • brian
      March 13, 2014 at 3:02 pm

      your wrong. read the state constitution. the sheriff is.

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  2. March 12, 2014 at 8:49 pm

    http://www.wwmt.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wwmt_barry-co-sheriffs-department-at-center-federal-investigation-19082.shtml#.UyEN3nVdUnY

    Former employees with the department tell Newschannel 3 that the investigation dates back to 2008, regarding an off-duty deputy killed in a motorcycle crash.

    Deputy Chris Yonkers was riding down M-43 the night of October 17, when his motorcycle collided with a car.

    He died at the scene.

    Barry County said hew as working at the time, making the department eligible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding.

    But a judge ruled Yonkers was off-duty at the time of the crash.

    Barry County never received the funds, but our sources say the Sheriff may have knowingly lied about Yonkers' off-duty status on the paperwork, prompting the investigation.

    The FBI is working in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's Office, which is in charge of the investigation, but so far, no details are being officially released.

    Many in the Hastings community are asking questions and wondering what could be happening--and why.

    The Barry County Commission told Newschannel 3 that they're asking many of the same questions, as they say they never saw it coming.

    The U.S. Attorney's Office says in situations like this, they don't comment on an investigation--or even the existence of one--until it's complete.

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    • Jason
      March 12, 2014 at 9:21 pm

      Uh huh.

      If this is the case, it might be one of those cases where one might reconsider doing favors. I can imagine a scenario where the deputy dies, and to get certain benefits for the FAMILY of the dead deputy, he might have needed to be on duty in some manner.

      In communities like this, everyone would know, but wouldn't say anything unless they had sour grapes to sow.

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      • Jim
        March 14, 2014 at 6:29 am

        Maybe the feds are coming down on the Sheriff for his stand on the 2nd Amendment. Will use any excuse to harass him. Sheriff Leaf is one of the best in recent memory. Just saying.

        You Betcha! (1)Nuh Uh.(1)
        • Corinthian Scales
          March 14, 2014 at 1:07 pm

          Hmmmm....

          GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids native Patrick Miles Jr., a Harvard law school acquaintance of President Barack Obama, today became the first African-American to hold the U.S. Attorney post for the Western District of Michigan.

          You think?

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    • Corinthian Scales
      March 12, 2014 at 9:32 pm

      Sounds to me that the MSP FUSION Center boys in blue have already overloaded their ass on this one.

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      • Jason
        March 12, 2014 at 9:46 pm

        Good find. Thanks CS!

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      • March 13, 2014 at 6:17 am

        So much for the idea that he fraudulently got death benefits for the deputy - unless he just said that he was off duty but actually still pushed for the benefits anyway. Doubt that though.

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