NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. — A deputy with the Newaygo County Sheriff's Office (NCSO) was watching the intersection of Monroe and Thornapple when he ended up in a pursuit that resulted in the death of the driver he was pursuing.
The chase happened on Friday, July 5 shortly after 2:00 p.m., according to documents 13 ON YOUR SIDE obtained from the NCSO.
A complaint had been filed with the sheriff's office saying that an ATV had been tearing up the intersection. Deputy Jon Geeting was watching the intersection to see if he could spot the ATV. While at the intersection, Geeting said in his report that he saw a black Chevrolet pickup truck going eastbound on Monroe.
According to the documents, Geeting watched the truck accelerate, causing its tires to spin. The truck fishtailed and continued eastbound. At this point, Geeting began pursuing the vehicle as it sped away.
During the pursuit, the truck was said to be traveling so fast it was out of Geeting's sight. However, the documents state he was able to follow spin marks and marks of fishtailing the truck left behind as it sped through the gravel roads. At various points, Geeting said he would catch up with the truck and even noticed the driver on his phone at one time. The driver, identified as Michael Lee Penland, would speed away each time he noticed Geeting coming up.
Geeting notified dispatch that he was pursuing a vehicle that was not stopping. The truck sped down a two-track, through a mud hole and once again out of Geeting's sight before he located it once again going eastbound on Harrison from Locust. Going through hills, Geeting once again lost sight of the vehicle at an intersection where there were no clear markings to indicate which way the truck had gone.
However, Undersheriff Palmiter and another deputy reported seeing the vehicle on Elm St. Geeting at that point came up on the Elm St. and Baseline intersection where he once again saw the truck. The truck fled once again. Geeting continued to pursue with Palmiter and Deputy Peacock following behind.
As the three of them continued the pursuit the vehicle fled down different roads, fishtailing and almost losing control completely multiple times. The truck took a curve on 4th St., where it was out of view. When Geeting rounded the corner he saw a large tree completely blocking the road.
Penland's truck was laying on its drivers side, and the trunk of the tree was laying on the front passenger side tire. Geeting made his way to the front of the truck, he said Palmiter was already there and was ordering Penland to show his hands. When they got closer, they realized Penland was deceased.
