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.