Sherman Twp. man arrested in connection to teen’s death; searching for second suspect.

Henry MacDougall died Oct. 16, 2017 during a traffic crash on US 31.

Sherman Twp. man arrested in connection to teen’s death; searching for second suspect.

#MasonCountyCrime.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

SHERMAN TOWNSHIP — A 52-year-old Sherman Township man was arrested Tuesday in the 3000 block of North Tuttle Road in connection to the Oct. 6, 2017 traffic crash death of 16-year-old Henry MacDougall of Ludington.

The man was arrested on a two count warrant, which included charges of controlled substance — maintaining a drug house, a high court misdemeanor punishable by up to two years imprisonment and/or a $25,000 fine, and controlled substance — possession of marijuana/synthetic equivalents, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year imprisonment and/or a $2,000 fine.

Deputies are also searching for the man’s 19-year-old son, of the same residence, who is wanted on the same two charges.

Henry MacDougall died after his vehicle crashed into a semi-truck and trailer at the intersection of US 31 and Sugar Grove Road in Sherman Township. MacDougall was west-bound on Sugar Grove Road and failed to stop for the intersection. According to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole, MacDougall had traces of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in his body.

Cole said detectives had obtained a Snapchat video taken of MacDougall within two hours of the crash showing him “dabbing,” which is using a type of inhaler to ingest a drug. In this case, Cole said, MacDougall was dabbing a highly concentrated form of marijuana wax.

“That video led us to the person who posted it, which then led us to a house on a search warrant,” Cole said.

“I want to emphasize that this is not a case against the legality of marijuana,” Cole said. “This is a case of a young man who died on a highway in our county, along with parents and a family who buried their 16-year-old son, and a truck driver who was so traumatized by the incident that he left his career.”

Cole said the sheriff’s office was assisted by the Michigan State Police and the local drug team, SSCENT.

“We are hoping that the other suspect does the right thing and turns himself in,” Cole said.

The 52-year-old suspect has not yet been arraigned. MCP will post a follow-up story, along with the man’s identity, upon arraignment in 79th District Court.