PORTAGE, Mich.— Tear gas was deployed late Saturday night after the sisters of two men involved in an officer-involved chase and shooting earlier this month refused to cooperate with authorities and leave their home, according to the Portage Department of Public Safety.
Officers were attempting to execute a search warrant at the home in the 4000 block of Raborn Court where at least one of the Pelletier brothers had lived. The brothers lead police on a chase May 14 that ended with officers shooting and killing 37-year-old Sean Pelletier.
That chase ended in gunfire in the parking lot of Anna’s Vineyards Apartment complex in Portage. Sean’s 29-year-old brother, Aaron Pelletier, was shot and left in critical condition. Police said the day of the shooting, Sean was holding an assault style rifle and pointed it at officers.
After receiving several calls of gunshots coming from the home Saturday night, officers responded. Due to the recent officer-involved shooting connected to the home and the ‘volatile’ history with the remaining siblings in the home, a search warrant was issued.
Court documents showed the mother of the two women had been trying to evict them from the Raborn Court home since November last year.
The Kalamazoo Metro SWAT team assisted Portage Public Safety Officers with the situation after the two sisters inside the home refused to cooperate and leave the residence. Officers deployed tear gas roughly 30 minutes into the standoff.
Both sisters attempted to run before being taken into custody. They were arrested on outstanding warrants.
Officers say they will seek additional charges for resisting and obstructing officers following a forensic evaluation of the siblings.
No officers or neighbors were reportedly hurt in the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Portage Department of Public Safety at 269-329-4567 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100, www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.
