A Green Bay roommate’s sprint into a Kincheloe Dollar General turned a tense road trip into a full-blown police operation, after Michigan State Police say a 26-year-old man stole a vehicle in Green Bay, forced his roommate inside at knifepoint and drove into the Upper Peninsula. The alleged victim bolted into the store and told the cashier to call 911, bringing troopers to the scene. Authorities say the suspect was later found at a nearby pizza shop and taken into custody without incident.
According to CBS Detroit, Green Bay police first alerted Michigan State Police about the reported vehicle theft, and troopers later discovered the stolen car broken down on Michigan Highway 28 near Michigan Highway 221. The suspect was no longer with the vehicle when it was found.
How Troopers Tracked Him Down
Troopers headed to Kincheloe after someone ran into the Dollar General and asked the cashier to dial 911, and they ultimately located the suspect inside the Pizza Patch restaurant, according to WLUC-TV. Investigators say the two men traveled from Green Bay to Chippewa County and, after the vehicle broke down, reportedly hitchhiked the rest of the way into town.
Charges And Court Schedule
Last Wednesday, the man, identified by local outlets as 26-year-old Blaze Gugin, was arraigned in the 91st District Court on counts of unlawful imprisonment and receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, and a judge set bond at 250,000 dollars cash, per CBS Detroit. He is scheduled to return to court on June 22.
Regional Coordination And Aftermath
Michigan State Police said they were assisted by the Sault Tribe Police Department and Chippewa County Central Dispatch during the response, and that the owner of the recovered vehicle has been contacted about getting it back, local outlets reported. The case highlights how a single cross-state vehicle report can quickly tap multiple agencies across the U.P. and neighboring Wisconsin, particularly when remote highways and a roadside breakdown complicate the search.
Legal Notes
Unlawful imprisonment and receiving and concealing stolen property are serious criminal counts under Michigan law, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Authorities have not released additional information about a possible motive, and anyone with tips about the incident is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Sault Ste. Marie Post or local investigators.
