[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Lapeer pit closed?.... (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 6/12/2005 10:49:26 AM EDT
| Went to the pit today and the sheriff was parked in there along with two trucks (shooters). I kept on driving, turned around and when I went back past the two trucks were gone and the sheriff was putting up some "sheriffs line do not cross" tape across the enterance. I guess its closed now? |
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Just a few things to consider here.......... I seriously doubt that the Sheriffs Dept has permanently closed it. They may have been investigating an incident that could lead to it's closing though. It may have been an injury or maybe a round went over the berm. Who knows at this point? State law allows us to target shoot on state land unless it is a park, or posted "No Shooting". The DNR would have to be the ones to make the decision to close it down and then post the appropriate signage. I wouldn't get to worked up untill such signs are posted. |
Tagged for further, was planning to go next this week  eta - In the event this isn't just rumor and conjecture it's going to be a sizeable pain in my *(&*&... I was hoping to get a few hundred rounds break-in done as a work up to a class in two weeks. It's a bit difficult to get things warmed up and function checked doing 6 round slow fire. I might wind up going all the way to Kent County. |
No rumor, I saw it. But the first thing I thought was "yeah right, that tape wont stay up long.... Hope you plan on a few more trips out here......" And I was also thinking what lumpy said, its the DNRs call. Maybe someone with the number can call that Jack guy at the DNR???? |
Just wondering, does anyone have a link to the laws regarding state land? |
WOO-HOO!!!! That makes sense, it was a K-9 unit...... |
Thanks for the info, acid indigestion mode toggling off. Back to gunkoting 
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Not sure, this info came from phoning the DNR in Lapeer. Jack said that they were looking for somone missing....I think he said from Meijers or something. They changed the status from "Search and Rescue" to "Recovery" so that does not sound good for whoever they are looking for. Sounds like they have reason to believe the person may be deceased....least that is how it goes when the Marine Sheriff is looking for someone out on the water. |
Nope, not good at all. The "usual" protocol for SAR is 7-14 days in the woods or 48 hours on water for the change from search to recovery. You never tell the family that though. they tend to get a LITTLE upset when you tell them you are looking for their loved one's dead body. Justifiably so, even if it's the reality. |
| keep in mind this is just hearsay but from what i heard a guy had a fight with mother and took off with gun and car. car was latter found on state land and they have been searchig the woods behind the pit several times this week i assumed that this is why it was closed ? add it with what gordie heard from dnr and lets keep our fingures crosed thats all it is |
From the Michiagn DNR website "Target shooting is allowed year around on state forest lands and state game and wildlife areas unless specifically posted closed to entry, target shooting or the discharge of firearms at the site. There is no law in Michigan which requires a person to be a set distance from a house or building to TARGET shoot. State Park and State Recreation Lands are closed to target shooting except at designated shooting ranges. For rules and regulations on federal forestlands, please contact the respective national forest office or check their web sites. Anyone discharging a firearm, whether for target or other purposes, is required by law to do so in a safe manner. If you target or skeet shoot on public lands, please police the area when you are done so as not to litter." |
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I was at the pit today (Friday) for the better part of the afternoon, and it is indeed open. Sheriff K9 did stop by and mentioned that they were looking for someone, and said it was ok to continue shooting as long as we weren't shooting into the air (?). Anyway, they were fine and we had a good day out. Just as an aside, any chance the pins can be saved from the cleanup crew? We did more pin shooting drills than anything else and barely tapped my case of clays. |
| That sounds like me. It was shake-down time for some gear revisions. We saw a few cars that came and left, it's surprising how an official looking vehicle will scare people off. It was very nice to have a safe and empty range, things are a bit much on the weekends (when I've been there before). Hopefully I'll see you out there one of these weekdays. |
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I put that tape up at the request of the Sheriff Deputy when I left yesterday afternoon. He left the tape for us to string across the opening when we left. You may try calling the Lapeer Co. Sheriff and ask if the search is going on today. Might be OK to shoot again if they are not out in the woods. |
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We were shooting there yesterday, saturday. A sheriffs deputy asked us to cease firing due to a search being conducted down range. The officer said they have been searching for 2 weeks for a 20 yr old male whose car was found parked in the area with a suicide note that said he would kill himself and nobody would find the body!!!!! So all of us mg-ers cooperated fully. The officer was very cool about the whole deal saying he could not force us to stop but that it would only be proper. He said he would convey to the family our concern and full cooperation. We want to maintain good relations with law enforcement in order to maintain future activities at the pit. So if you see the cops there and police line tape you know why. Hoping to do some shooting next weekend myself! |
Probably because the LEOs want restricted access to their new range. Downrange is a tall berm. Unless they're conducting the search in the Pit, they're not downrange but hopefully they find the person. |
| the reason the rounds "skip" the berm and shoot up the trees on top of it is because most of the targets are being placed in the center of the range, not at the base of the berm at the back of the range. I saw a fella shooting a Ma duce at a target mid range and watched the tracers going over the berm, and those were the one's I could see. I wonder how many went over that I couldnt see. |
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Any more news as to whether they found the missing guy or not? Me and my dad wanted to go there this weekend, but it's a 3 hour drive for us. If it's going to be closed we don't want to drive all the way out there. Does anyone know anywhere else to shoot in Lapeer? I need a backup place to go just in case. |
Call the Lapeer County Sheriff and ask if there is a search in progress. Any state land can be used as a shooting range as long as you are shooting into an appropriate backstop. The pit just happens to be a convenient place to do so as it provides a great backstop with vehicle access right to the firing ling. |
| I was trying to stay out of this but here goes, the COPS are telling you there is a search going on to get you to stop shooting when the folks in the hood call complaining about all the noise. I heard them on the scanner talking about what they were going to tell you to get you to stop shooting. then they put the tape up so you wont come back right away. thats it thankyou good bye. |
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Well, if that is the case it is sad to see the Sheriff has sank so low as to use the death of a person for an excuse to resolve a situation that they otherwise could not. He did say several times that he could not make us stop but at the request of the deceedants family he hoped we would honor their request and let me conduct a search. Perhaps if this happens again we should offer to help in the search so we can validate that there is indeed a search being conducted. |
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Did a seach and found this....so at least they did not fabricate it. http://www.countypress.com/stories/062905/loc_20050615003.shtml PUBLISHED: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 Family searches for missing son by SUSAN YOUNGER staff reporter NORTH BRANCH—They hope someone may have seen their son. Advertisement Each day the family searches for Caleb Allen, 22, who has been missing for almost a month. The North Branch family hopes that someone may have spotted the thin good looking 5-11 young man who was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and khaki pants. He wears his hair short and has slight signs of a beard. Friends and volunteers help the family comb a thickly-wooded state game area looking for some sign of Allen. Caleb left home May 30 and was reported as missing by his parents Clyde and Robin the next day. His loved ones fear for his safety. Caleb graduated from North Branch High School in 2001 and had attended college with hopes to become an engineer. He works for Metamora Products as an intern. "He's a good kid and wonderful," said Robin. "But lately he'd become despondent." After he was reported as missing, county sheriff's deputies searched the countryside and found Allen's burgundy 1996 Buick Lesabre June 6. It was locked up in the parking area of the state game area on Byers Road and East Roods Lake Road, said Lt. Gary Parks. "It's a spot where people park who are going to work, or who are going to the state game area," said Parks. "Indications were that he might have done harm to himself." Deputies found Allen's identification inside the car. A hand gun he was known to possess was missing. Oakland County Sheriff's Department loaned services of a helicopter to search above the heavily wooded 9,000 acres that also includes lakes and streams. "State police, volunteers, and dogs helped deputies in the search," said Parks. "Oakland County brought in their infrared equipment." Since Allen disappeared, there has been no activity on his charge or bank cards, said Parks. Police resources have been exhausted, but each day family and friends walk through the woods searching for some sign of Allen. Volunteers from fire departments and Country Christian Church of North Branch are assisting. Bloodhounds from the Tri-State Canine club have found Caleb's scent, but the young outdoor enthusiast had recently been in the woods with his brother. Robin said words can't express their gratitude for the help and support they've received. They're now turning to the public, hoping that someone may have seen something that will help them find their son. Persons with information are asked to call 664-1801. |
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But how far away is Byers Road and East Roods Lake Road? Also it sounds as if the family and recruited church volunteers are looking over and over again in the pit area. So if there are people who will not let go then perhaps we will have to endure some of this. I believe what your saying about the cops talking across the radio's but if it was people who are searching that made the complaint then what else can they do - talk amongst themselves about how their going to handle the machine gunners! It certainly is not right for law enforcement to fabricate a story or lie to the public - but then again cops do alot of things that are not quite right - not all cops mind you. Also maybe someone - not me I don't think should call the phone number and see if they are going to be in the area - 664-1801 |
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I'm REALLY having a hard time believing that they are using it as an excuse. I talked to someone that showed up there after Gordie & I left and they met with the searchers that were behind the pit. The searchers are the ones who complained of errant bullets going over the berm. They shared some aerial photos with the people that showed up to shoot and pointed out an alternate area where they could shoot and not put the search part in danger. Of all the shooting that goes on up there, the only time I've heard of locals complaining is when tannerite is being used. ETA: Byers Rd. and Roods Lake Rd. is less than a mile from the pit. |