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Michael Lee Penland

Gender : Male

Age : 38

Race : White

Date : 07/12/2024

Location : Monroe and Thornapple

City : Newaygo

County : Newaygo

State : Michigan

Agency : Newaygo County Sheriff's

Officer(s) :Jon Geeting

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 07/05/2024, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Deputy Jon Geeting of the Newaygo County Sheriff's Office was monitoring the intersection of Monroe and Thornapple in response to complaints about an ATV causing disturbances. He observed a black Chevrolet pickup truck accelerating rapidly, causing its tires to spin and the vehicle to fishtail. Deputy Geeting initiated a pursuit as the truck sped away on gravel roads, often outpacing the deputy's vehicle. The pursuit continued with the truck leaving visible spin marks and fishtail tracks, which Deputy Geeting used to follow. Despite multiple attempts to stop the vehicle, the driver, identified as 38-year-old Michael Lee Penland II of White Cloud, Michigan, continued to flee. The chase concluded when Penland's truck collided with a large tree, resulting in his death at the scene.
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TOTAL FATALITIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER:
1 fatality: Michael Lee Penland II
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INVESTIGATION: The Newaygo County Sheriff's Office is conducting an internal review of the incident to ensure all protocols were followed during the pursuit. No other injuries were reported.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/crime/deputy-follows-spin-marks-find-vehicle-fleeing-through-gravel-roads-pursuit-ends-crash-death-suspect/69-207e0ed1-e469-4feb-aa9b-44c01327c496
https://www.crandellfh.com/obituary/Michael-PenlandII
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/michael-penland-obituary?id=55534270

Sources