NORTH WEBSTER – An alert was sent out by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Sunday. At about 8:18 p.m., representatives of the IDNR sent out the alert warning of an armed and dangerous suicidal man in the Tri-County Fish and Wildlife area north of North Webster. The alert advised residents to avoid the area and lock their doors. About 19 minutes later, IDNR then released an update saying the man was in police custody. Information contained in the alert, however, appears to be in conflict with the chain of events provided by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department. Michael Miller, 20, of Twinsburg, Ohio, was reported as a possible threat to himself. But Sgt. Chad Hill, KCSD’s public information officer, said Miller was never on foot and never had a shotgun as IDNR reported. Police had been looking for Miller since about 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the request of his family, who believed he was suicidal, Hill said. At about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, officers located Miller near CR 650N and EMS T52 Lane, south of North?Webster. KCSD Sgt. Floyd Knafel had telephone contact with Miller and was able to talk Miller into pulling over and surrendering. Knafel transported Miller to the Bowen Center in Pierceton, where he was placed on a 24-hour hold for psychiatric evaluation. Hill said no charges are forthcoming related to the incident.
