Press Release: 8/29/18
8/29/2018 4:16:00 PM - Public Relations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: August 29, 2018 

CONTACT:  Erik Rodriguez, Interim Public Relations Director

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe would like to express our condolences to the family and friends of the young man who lost his life in an automobile accident this past weekend. The family and community will continue to remain in our thoughts and prayers.  Out of respect and privacy to the young man’s family the Tribe has been asked not to comment or release details as it pertains to this incident. Tribal representatives have been in private communication with the family and again have not released a statement to honor their wishes. 

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe is saddened by the inaccurate reporting by the local newspaper outlet and disappointed in its failed attempt to report the facts in this matter.  As it relates to the incident, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal Police were not in pursuit of the vehicle. Instead, a Tribal officer was on patrol and simply witnessed the accident. 

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal Police Department was assisted by the Isabella County Sheriff’s Office and the Shepherd Police Department.  A state certified reconstruction team was called to the scene and a reconstruction of the accident was completed.  A Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Officer was accompanied by the Shepherd Police Chief, Luke Sawyer, to the victim’s residence to notify the family the morning of the accident. 

We ask that the family and community have the opportunity to properly mourn the loss of a loved one and that the media does not exploit this young man’s death.  We would like to thank our local law enforcement and rescue agencies that assisted the Tribal Police Department including the Isabella County Sherriff’s Office, the Shepherd Police Department, the Tribal Fire Department, the Shepherd Fire Department and the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department. 

For more information, contact Erik Rodriguez, Interim Public Relations Director, at (989) 775-4076 or erodriguez@sagchip.org. 

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