Michigan State Police posts on alert after suspect shoots cars, sets them on fire

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (FOX 2) - Michigan State Police are looking for a suspect who shot at and lit multiple patrol vehicles on fire early Wednesday.

The vehicles were parked at the Sault Ste. Marie Post in the Upper Peninsula when police say he set four vehicles on fire and sprayed them with bullets from a rifle around 3:30 a.m. The vehicles were empty at the time.

"We are concerned naturally. Anybody that is brazen enough to go to a state police post and fire on it, light cars on fire, is definitely a danger to the community," said MSP F/Lt. Mike Shaw, who works in Metro Detroit. 

Though it happened far from Metro Detroit, MSP troopers around the state are on alert.

"Was his intent to shoot at first responders when they arrived on scene? That’s one of the things that we look at in any terrorism act is those secondary devices," Shaw said. "Back in 2002 our Owosso post was actually burned to the ground by somebody that was upset for whatever reason and burned the post down. He was later convicted for that crime."

Police only have a vague description of the suspect, a white man wearing camouflage and driving a silver Honda CRV. He was last seen headed south I-75 Business Loop.

If you have information or see the suspect, who should be considered armed and dangerous, call police at 906-632-2217 or 911.

MSP said that "out of an abundance of caution" people are asked to avoid non-essential business at all posts Wednesday, though all posts aside from the Sault Ste. Marie would remain open. The Sault Ste. Marie Post lobby is closed Wednesday.