A Mecosta County jury has found Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officer Ryan Cox not guilty in a 2023 campground shooting that left one man wounded, ending a closely watched criminal case tied to a tense night at Merrill‑Gorrel County Park in Barryton.
Cox had been on paid administrative leave while the case moved through the courts. Over several days of testimony, jurors heard from campers who were there that night, medical providers who treated the victim, and DNR personnel familiar with Cox and department procedures. Their verdict last Thursday closed the criminal prosecution stemming from the May 13, 2023, confrontation.
Chief Brandon Kieft of the DNR Law Enforcement Division said his office is “grateful that the legal process in this case has concluded and that a jury returned a not guilty verdict,” according to CBS News Detroit. The agency said it is now working with the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards on how and when to return Cox to active duty. During the encounter, Cox was accused of firing multiple shots, one of which struck a man who was later hospitalized.
What Happened At The Park
According to the Michigan Attorney General’s office, the incident began as a verbal and physical altercation involving Cox’s father and other campers at Merrill‑Gorrel County Park on May 13, 2023. Cox, who was off duty, stepped into the dispute, identified himself as a conservation officer, and then fired multiple rounds, striking one person.
The injured man was hospitalized and later filed a federal civil lawsuit. The suit, which identifies the claimant as Brandon Davis, alleges that the shooting caused life‑altering injuries and led to multiple surgeries and seeks $250 million in damages, as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
Charges And Courtroom Testimony
Prosecutors charged Cox in December 2023 with assault with intent to do great bodily harm and with felony firearm. The case was later bound over for trial. Local reporting indicates the felony firearm count was thrown out during pretrial proceedings after a judge determined the statute did not apply to the circumstances, leaving jurors to decide only the assault charge.
Jurors deliberated for about two hours before acquitting Cox. His attorney, Ben Hall, described the scene at the campground as “chaotic” and argued that Cox believed he had to use force to prevent serious harm, according to WCMU Public Media. Separate local coverage detailed the flow of testimony and the timing of the deliberations, as reported by Big Rapids Daily News.
Civil Suit And What Comes Next
The federal civil lawsuit filed by Brandon Davis, which seeks $250 million, remains a separate legal battle and can move forward regardless of the criminal verdict, according to ClickOnDetroit.
Meanwhile, the DNR says it is coordinating with the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards on the process for returning Cox to active duty in its Law Enforcement Division, as reported by CBS News Detroit. For local campers and residents, the case serves as a pointed reminder that when off‑duty officers step into personal disputes, the fallout can quickly spill from the campground to the courtroom and into internal agency reviews.
