Rolling Thunder has 'last ride' for Bletz

By BRANDON LACIC
Sentinel-Standard managing editor
IONIA -- To the hundreds of Rolling Thunder members who came from across the state to participate in the "last ride," Fred Bletz isn't the man at the center of a police-involved shooting.

He was their leader.

Bletz, 56, the state director for all six chapters of Rolling Thunder of Michigan, was shot and killed by police late Tuesday, May 3, after he allegedly pointed a gun at two Ionia County Sheriff deputies. They were at his home at 7799 Centerline Road near Saranac to arrest his 28-year-old son, Zachary Bletz.

Nearly one week after Bletz's death, more than 300 men and women on approximately 250 motorcycles rumbled into the Ionia Fairgrounds Monday afternoon as a final tribute to him.

In an untraditional procession of roaring motorcycles, the group -- which travels the state raising awareness for Prisoners of War/Missing in Action issues -- headed to Saranac where many of them attended Bletz's funeral at Galilee Baptist Church.

At the fairgrounds Rolling Thunder member Janet McNees, of Muskegon, took what are normally black arm bands and tied them to motorcyles' side mirrors as the hundreds lined up along the Grand River.

"We're here today because of Fred Bletz's funeral -- this is the 'last ride.' This is just to show respect." McNees said.

His ride from Lansing to Washington D.C. in a bamboo cage netted Bletz most of his renown, but Bletz took the bamboo cage -- symbolizing prisoners of war in Vietnam -- across the state to educate people about the plight of those lost in all U.S. wars.

"He was the best advocate for our cause," McNees said. "He would take that cage to elementary schools so they could see what it's like for prisoners of war."

Coming from as far away as Kalamazoo, Brighton, Mt. Pleasant and Manistee, most of the Rolling Thunder members stayed for the funeral in Saranac.

"We're just here to honor him and his memory," said Aileen Adragna, a Pontiac resident and former state secretary for Rolling Thunder of Michigan.

"This took everybody as such a shock" McNees said.



Bletz's funeral held in Saranac

By RYAN JELTEMA
Sentinel-Standard writer
SARANAC -- Family, friends and comrades packed Galilee Baptist Church Monday evening to honor the life of Fred Bletz -- a man who advocated for prisoners of war and those missing in action.

Bletz, 56, received military honors and a 21-gun salute as services came to a close inside the crowded church.

During the funeral several friends and members of Rolling Thunder, a veterans advocacy group Bletz served, stood behind his flag-draped casket and talked about the difference he made in their lives and countless other lives.

"This is not a funeral, it's a celebration of life," said Ben Webster, a member of Rolling Thunder.

Bletz's brother said he was like an M&M -- hard on the outside but soft on the inside. People who got to know Bletz said he was always fair and unselfish.

"There was nothing -- not one thing -- he wouldn't do" for a fellow man, said one member of Rolling Thunder. "He may have been outspoken, but he was fair."

Bletz served in the Marines during the Vietnam War. While fighting overseas, his helicopter was shot down and enemy forces eventually took him captive.

A member of Rolling Thunder said Bletz was "walking wounded" with emotional scars from his service overseas. "He truly had wounds that we cannot see," he said.

Bletz was a changed man when he came home in 1968. He worked tirelessly to help fellow veterans and had a special talent for talking to teens and school groups about the difficulties veterans face.

Webster said Bletz was labeled an "activist," but he helped a lot of people in positive ways. Bletz publicized the struggles of veterans in 2003 by riding in a bamboo cage for two months from Lansing to Washington D.C.

Above all, Bletz loved to fish and enjoyed life, Webster said.

Bletz was shot in his home nearly one week ago during a confrontation with Ionia County Sheriff deputies who were there to arrest his son, Zachary.

Just before midnight, Ionia County Sheriff Sgt. Travis Gribble and Deputy Brent Denny were serving the bench warrant for Zachary's failure to appear for a February court date in Grand Rapids. After taking Zachary into custody and leading him outside, the officers allowed him back inside to retrieve a pair of shoes.

While inside, Fred Bletz appeared from a back room and allegedly pointed a .45-caliber handgun at the officers. Officers reportedly ordered Bletz to put the gun down, but he refused.

Gribble fired an unknown number of shots at Bletz, apparently striking him in the abdomen. Police have not released how many shots were fired. Bletz did not discharge his firearm.

Bletz was pronounced dead inside his home.

Despite the controversty surrounding Bletz's death, Webster called on everyone to deal with their anger in a positive way.

"I know each one of us is having a hard time. We have to be able to forgive," Webster said.

Sheriff indicates both sides were with their rights in veteran's death
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
By Ken Kolker
The Grand Rapids Press

SARANAC -- Fred Bletz might have been legally protecting his home when he pulled a gun on deputies in his family room, but that does not mean his shooting by police was unjustified, the Ionia County sheriff said Monday.

Sheriff Dwain Dennis said it was possible Bletz and Sgt. Travis Gribble, who shot the Vietnam veteran to death, acted within the law.

"It's not a matter of who's the most right, or who's the most wrong," Dennis said. "It's a tragic situation on both sides."

Bletz, 56, of Saranac, was shot and killed in his home by Gribble about 11:30 p.m. May 3, when the sergeant and a deputy were arresting Bletz's son, Zachary Bletz, 28, on a misdemeanor bench warrant.

Zachary Bletz told The Press his father would not have known the deputies were police officers because they never identified themselves once they got inside the home, which he said was illuminated only by the deputies' flashlights.

He said his father was sleeping until the officers came inside, yelling to shut up the family's dog.

Zachary Bletz said he did not recall hearing the officers order his father to drop his gun before opening fire. His father did not fire a shot.

Dennis said the sergeant shot Bletz after warning him twice to drop the .45-caliber handgun, which was loaded. But Dennis acknowledged it was possible the deputies, who were in uniform, did not identify themselves to Fred Bletz.

"I don't believe time permitted that," he said. "It was very rapid action: 'Drop it, drop it.'"

Dennis said he did not know the lighting conditions in the house at the time, although the deputies reported they saw the elder Bletz clearly.

State Police Lt. David Greydanus refused to comment on the investigation, which is being conducted by his department. The prosecutor must determine whether the shooting was justified.

State law allows police to use lethal force to protect themselves or others from an immediate threat. A ruling on whether it is justified is based on what the officer believed "at the moment" and not with "20-20 vision hindsight," reads a legal manual kept by police.

Dennis has called the shooting justified and "by the book," but Monday conceded he based that on only brief discussions with the deputies involved.

He was not aware of statements made by the son or Zachary Bletz's mother, who was in the bedroom when her husband was shot, Dennis said.

Zachary Bletz said he was leaving with the deputies -- who were picking him up on a bench warrant for failing to appear for a drunken-driving case -- when they told him to go back inside and get his shoes. He said they followed him inside with their guns drawn.

Dennis said he believed the younger Bletz asked the deputies for permission to get his shoes. "It was an act of compassion" when they told him he could, he said. But since they already arrested him, they could not let him go inside alone, Dennis said.

"It wouldn't matter what shoes he wears to jail, because when they get to jail, we take" their shoes.

Dennis also defended his department's practice of making late-night misdemeanor warrant arrests at suspects' homes.

"We do it when we can find the person home. In this case, I think the time was justified."

He expressed condolences to Bletz's family.

"I seriously grieve for the family, for the officers, for the officers' families, and for the community. Something like this that has the potential to divide people is not good."

Meanwhile, Dennis said his department did not receive threats from members of Ethical Good Government, or EGG, a group of government watchdogs in Ionia County.

He was quoted last week as saying the group was "talking retribution" after Bletz' death.

"There may have been a misunderstanding. ... I do not think officers would be hurt by any of them," Dennis said.

He said he received several angry e-mails from Vietnam veterans. Bletz was a helicopter gunner in Vietnam who received two Purple Hearts.

"At the time this happened, nobody had any knowledge that Mr. Bletz was a Vietnam veteran. They killed a man with a gun; they didn't kill a Vietnam vet," Dennis said.


Press staff writer Ed White contributed to this story

Teens host benefit for Family of Fred Bletz

By the Sentinel-Standard
IONIA -- Local teens from the I Challenge Youth Center and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 3732 have joined together to host a benefit hog roast for the family of Fred Bletz of Saranac, on Sat., June 4.

Bletz worked with the youth in Ionia County, including mentoring at the Youth Center. Several teens who attend the center expressed a desire to somehow lend a hand to the family.

The benefit will be held at the I Challenge Youth Center (in the VFW building), 576 N. State Rd., in Ionia, from noon to 6 p.m. on Sat., June 4.

Costs for the Hog Roast are adults $7; seniors, teens and children $6.

All proceeds will benefit the family of Fred Bletz.

Sheriff's department releases report involving deadly shooting of war veteran Fred Bletz

(Ionia County, May 17, 2005, 12:46 p.m.) The Ionia County Sheriff's Department has completed its investigation involving the deadly shooting of a Vietnam War veteran.

The police sergeant and deputy involved in the shooting are back at work, but in the office instead of on the street.

Sgt. Travis Gribble, accompanied by Deputy Brent Denny, shot to death Fred Bletz after going to arrest his son, Zachary, at their home on a failure to appear warrant for drunk driving.

The shooting took place just before midnight on May 3 at the Bletz residence on Centerline Road in Saranac.

The report shows the sergeant told an internal investigator that he and Bletz made eye contact through a window prior to the shooting. The sergeant said he then flashed his flashlight several times to indicate to Bletz that he and the deputy were with the police department.

The officers had gotten Zachary outside the home, but say they allowed him to go back inside to get his shoes. That is when the officers clearly saw Zachary's dad coming toward them with a pistol raised.

The officers say they crouched against a wall and yelled at Bletz to drop his gun. They determined he was not going to, so Sgt. Gribble shot Bletz four times. Bletz never fired his gun. He died at the scene.

The younger Bletz was released on a personal recognizance bond and released at the scene.

Michigan State Police continue to work on their investigation into the shooting.

Bletz shooting: independent review
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
There is no question that the shooting death of Fred Bletz by an Ionia County sheriff's sergeant was a tragedy. But was it justified?

Answering that question will be the job of law enforcement officials, who must sift through conflicting testimony about what happened at Mr. Bletz's home the night of May 3.

They have to determine if Mr. Bletz was killed by sheriff's officials acting in accordance with sound police practice and the law, or in a rash, irresponsible manner.

Whatever the outcome, county residents should be confident that the probe was thorough, fair and objective. Putting the Michigan State Police in charge of the inquiry is a positive first step. Now Ionia Prosecutor Ronald Schafer should ask the state attorney general to appoint someone else -- from outside the county -- to decide.

The death of Mr. Bletz, a Vietnam veteran and advocate for soldiers missing in action, has caused considerable controversy. Mr. Schafer's decision, whatever his conclusions, would likely leave somebody dissatisfied. An independent review by another prosecutor is needed.

Ionia County Sheriff Sgt. Travis Gribble and Deputy Brent Denny went to the Bletz home about 11:30 p.m. on May 3. They came to arrest Fred Bletz's son, Zachary Bletz, for failing to appear at a drunken driving hearing in Grand Rapids. Zachary Bletz came out of the house peacefully, and talked to officers for several minutes, according to official reports. He went back into the house to get his shoes. Deputies accompanied him. Fred Bletz appeared, carrying a legally registered gun. Sgt. Gribble shot Mr. Bletz. He died a few minutes later.

Important specifics are in dispute. With young Bletz already outside, did deputies allow him to go back to the house? Or did they ask him to? Did the deputy and sergeant identify themselves as law enforcement representatives as they entered the home? When did they pull their weapons? Were lights on in the home?

Did the officers' flashlights provide the only light, possibly shining in Fred Bletz's face and making it more difficult for him to see? Did the senior Bletz say anything before shots were fired? Did the officers shout warnings before they fired?

Law enforcement officials are called every day to make split-second decisions in confusing circumstances. Their judgments shouldn't be arbitrarily second-guessed. A routine traffic stop can turn deadly. Every year, some of them lose their lives in the line of duty, a fact noted on Monday in a memorial to police in downtown Grand Rapids.

At the same time, swirling around this particular incident are questions of a midnight arrest on a nonviolent misdemeanor, and officers shooting a man in his own home who was not even the suspect they were attempting to arrest. They already had their suspect in custody.

Citizens need to know that police are toeing the thin blue line, not crossing it. Providing that assurance in Mr. Bletz's case would help bring closure for law enforcement and the community. An independent review of the evidence would be a good way to accomplish that goal.

© 2005 Grand Rapids Press. Used with permission

Copyright 2005 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved.

County attorney to examine Bletz shooting

By RYAN JELTEMA
Sentinel-Standard writer
IONIA -- Ionia County takes a "proactive" step to prepare for possible civil litigation in the May 3 shooting death of Boston Township resident Fred Bletz by a sheriff deputy.

Attorney Karrie Boylan of the Cummings, McClory, Davis and Acho law firm in Detroit has been hired through the county's insurance carrier, Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority. She begins evaluation next week of the county's liability in the incident.

Ionia County Sheriff Dwain Dennis requested the review the day after the shooting, and said it is "routine" for all "major incidents" involving the county or sheriff department.

"It's standard for an incident with a likelihood of a lawsuit. We've done it before," said Ionia County Administrator Mark Howe, who serves as the county's risk manager. "This is just a proactive approach to make sure all of the bases are covered."

Similar reviews were conducted following the recent death of an inmate at the County Jail, and in 2002 when a deputy was accused of criminal sexual conduct while on duty.

The review is completely separate from the Michigan State Police investigation of the shooting. Howe said he was unsure how long it may last or how much it will cost. Since the county is self-insured, the cost of the review is paid by the insurance fund.

Boylan will begin preparing a defense for the case in the event a civil lawsuit is filed against the county. She is expected to study police reports of the incident, talk to the officers involved and study "anything that may be beneficial," Howe said.

Most likely, she will not contact Bletz's family.

"She will check things out from a civil perspective," he said.

Neither Howe nor Dennis knew of pending litigation related to the incident.

Ionia County Sheriff Department Sgt. Travis Gribble and Deputy Brent Denny went to Bletz's home, at 7799 Centerline Road, Saranac, shortly before midnight to serve a warrant to his son, Zachary Bletz. While inside the home, Fred Bletz allegedly pointed a .45-caliber handgun at the officers, gun fire was returned, and Bletz died at the scene.