COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – There was an unconfirmed report Tuesday in Branch County of a man seen with a gun on the Newton Road I-69 overpass north of Coldwater. 9-1-1 Central Dispatch received a call around 2:30 p.m. from an Ohio woman who said she saw a tall, thin male with short hair pointing a gun at the southbound car she was riding in with her husband.
It’s been 3 weeks since the first reports of vehicles being struck by projectiles or in three cases, gunshots being fired, along I-94 and I-69 in Calhoun County as well as I-69 in Branch County and Eaton County. No one has been injured.
Only a minute or two after yesterday’s reported incident, Branch County deputies were at the scene and combed the area, finding no evidence of a weapon or gunshots nor of anyone having been there. Also, there were no sightings by those at farms to the west and east of the overpass or by a Clemens pork plant construction worker to the east of the location. The woman wasn’t able to provide to deputies any description of the gun she reportedly saw and her husband who was driving told the Sheriff’s Department he didn’t notice anyone on the Newton Road overpass.
About 20 vehicles have been damaged since August 19 and Calhoun County Sheriff Matt Saxton said at least 3 of them were struck by bullets in his county. Branch County authorities and Michigan State Police at the Coldwater Post said today they are not aware of any gun shots fired at vehicles travelling on I-69 in Branch County during the recent incidents.
