Police use robots to find sleeping suspect with handgun, meth in Vermontville Township

VERMONTVILLE TWP. - State police used robots to locate a sleeping suspect earlier this week, part of an investigation that led to three arrests.

On Tuesday, July 17, members of the Eaton County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan State Police Fugitive Team saw a man with four outstanding warrants walk into a home in the 700 block of S. Lacey Lake Road in Vermontville Township. A months-long investigation had led police to believe the suspect was armed, according to a press release from the Eaton County Sheriff's Office.

After surrounding the home, members of the Eaton County Special Response Team asked those inside to come out. Law enforcement officials were unsuccessful in reaching the suspect, so the Michigan State Police Bomb Squad sent two robots into the home. One of the robots spotted the suspect, Jack Wagner, sleeping on a couch in the basement. 

Response team members entered the home and arrested Wagner, who had a handgun and was "in close proximity to methamphetamine," according to the news release. 

A second person inside the home was arrested on multiple outstanding warrants.

A follow-up investigation led sheriff's deputies to a home in the 2000 block of North Ionia Road, where they found a third subject who they arrested for possession of methamphetamine. 

Wagner, the only suspect who police had named as of midday Saturday, was subsequently charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and a felony firearms charge. 

The investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.

Contact RJ Wolcott at (517) 377-1026 or rwolcott@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @wolcottr.