Rep. Neil Friske's case sent to Michigan AG after June arrest, allegations
Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane's office announced Tuesday it has referred the investigation into state Rep. Neil Friske, R-Charlevoix, to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office "based on potential crimes in multiple county jurisdictions."
Friske, who represents a northern Michigan district in the Michigan House of Representatives, was arrested in Lansing early in the morning of June 20 and held overnight in a Lansing jail after police say they responded to reports of an adult male with a gun and possible shots fired.
"Given the statewide jurisdiction of the Attorney General, I believe their office is best situated to handle the case at this point," Dewane said in an email sent to news media Tuesday afternoon.
Dewane did not specify whether the case was being referred to Nessel's office for further investigation, or to make a decision on potential criminal charges. Dewane's office referred an inquiry to Nessel's office, which did not immediately respond to an email sent Tuesday.
Friske has not been charged with any crime and has denied committing any crimes. His attorney, Edwar Zeineh of Lansing, said Friske maintains he is innocent of any criminal wrongdoing.
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"We welcome the investigation," Zeineh said Tuesday. "Regardless of who conducts the investigation, we believe it's going to lead to the same ends of no charges. So we're going to continue to work diligently with the Attorney General's office in fulfilling their investigative duties as we protect the rights and interests of Mr. Friske."
Lansing police initially had requested felony charges of sexual assault, assault, and a weapons-related offense against Friske, according to records previously obtained by the Free Press. The Free Press had also requested and obtained heavily redacted police reports which indicated police investigated Friske for potential first-degree criminal sexual conduct, the most serious sexual assault charge.
Friske is a first-term Republican lawmaker representing Michigan's 107th House District, which covers all of Charlevoix and Emmet counties and portions of Cheboygan, Chippewa and Mackinac counties, spanning across both peninsulas.
In August, Friske lost a primary election to Parker Fairbairn, a Harbor Springs small business owner.
Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Friske investigation sent to Attorney General Dana Nessel's office
