SKANDIA TOWNSHIP, MI— A Skandia man is in custody following a hostage situation in the Township Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Around 8:50 p.m. Saturday, the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police responded to a residence on Carlshend Road for an animal-on-animal bite complaint. A neighbor of Kyle Beauchemin, 31, reported his donkey was attacked by one of Beauchemin's dogs.
Officers tried to speak with Beauchemin at his residence, but there was no answer. They cleared the scene pending contact with Beauchemin.
Around 9:50 p.m., police returned to his home for a domestic/hostage situation. It was reported Beauchemin was in the house with four children, his girlfriend, and an estimated 28 pit bull-mix dogs in and around the residence.
The Sheriff's Office obtained an arrest warrant for Beauchemin and a search warrant for his home. The Michigan State Police Emergency Support Team was activated to assist.
Sunday around 5 a.m., negotiators tried to get Beauchemin to exit the house peacefully. Negotiations continued until a tactical entry was made into the residence around 10:50 a.m. Beauchemin resisted and assaulted some troopers while being taken into custody. No one else was injured, but one of the dogs had to be dispatched during entry.
Beauchemin was charged Monday with unlawful imprisonment and domestic violence.
The incident remains under investigation.
Assisting in the incident were Forsyth Township Police, Sands/West Branch EMS, Forsyth Township EMS, Community Covenant Church, and UPAWS.
