The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office reports that what started as an attempted traffic stop yesterday night ended in the death of a Fort Gratiot Township man.
On Tuesday, July 11, around 8:00 pm, a deputy attempted to stop a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer on Lakeshore Road just south of Shorewood Road, due to the registered owner showing an outstanding felony warrant. The single male occupant, 35-year-old Jeffery Adams of Fort Gratiot Township, stopped initially and a short slow speed pursuit ensued, ending when he pulled into a residence on Lakeshore Road.
Adams then ran into the home and a single shot was fired toward deputies through a window. Deputies took cover as a second shot was heard within a minute of the first. A drone was used to canvas the area close to where it was believed the man had gone. It was determined the male did not leave that home.
Deputies created a perimeter around the home and the area was checked. For everyone’s safety, residents of the area were asked to shelter in place and the road was closed until the situation was resolved. Detectives from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office secured a search warrant for the home and a drone was again deployed to search the residence. The male was found deceased in the residence from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Deputies from the Special Response Team then searched the residence confirming the male was the sole occupant.
There were no shots fired by deputies during this incident and no one else was injured. Sheriff Mat King expressed thanks to the Major Crimes Unit, Special Response Team, Michigan State Police, Drug Task Force, Port Huron Police Department, and Coast Guard, along with Fort Gratiot Fire Department and Tri-hospital EMS who all responded to assist.
“This not the outcome that we hoped for, any loss of life is tragic. I would like to commend all of the deputies and departments involved and am relieved that no law enforcement was injured. The collaboration between departments helped tremendously to resolve the situation quickly,” said Sheriff Mat King.
