College students could face charges in ski resort damage

DETROIT — Officials in Otsego County want criminal charges pressed against University of Michigan fraternity and sorority members who are being blamed for vandalizing dozens of rooms at a northern Michigan ski resort two weeks ago, causing about $100,000 in damages.

The Otsego County Board of Commissioners in a 9-0 vote passed a resolution Tuesday asking its county prosecutor to pursue criminal charges, board Vice Chairman Doug Johnson said Thursday.

The motion came at the urging of local residents, one of whom stood up during the meeting and asked if the county would pursue charges. Treetops Resort is located near Gaylord, Mich., and is in Otsego County. The board is the chief legislative and policy-making body of Otsego County.

"A constituent in the audience asked if the county was going to prosecute or direct the county prosecutor to go forward with this to the full extent of the law," Johnson said. "We said yes, we're not going to sweep this under the rug. We passed a motion to support the prosecuting attorney as he proceeds with the investigation and the charges that might be pending."

Treetops Resort manager Barry Owens said Tuesday the damage estimates approach $100,000. And Erin Ernst, spokeswoman for Boyne Highlands in nearby Emmet County, said that resort sustained at least $25,000 in damage that same weekend from U-M students that partied there and that figure might continue to climb as more quotes for repair and replacement are completed. Both resorts said they hope to pursue charges.

Michigan State Police Lt. Derrick Carroll said the investigation is ongoing and police are continuing to interview and search for possible witnesses. Carroll said the University of Michigan has been helpful in the investigation.

Six U-M fraternities and sororities have been suspended by their national offices amid the investigation. The Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and Sigma Delta Tau sorority are accused of causing the damage at Treetops.

Sigma Delta Tau sorority, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, Alpha Phi sorority, Chi Psi fraternity and the Delta Gamma sorority were also suspended after being accused of causing damage to condominiums at Boyne Highlands near Harbor Springs.

"We're still investigating and still trying to conduct more interviews and identify more people to talk to, get witness statements, it's just an ongoing thing," Carroll said. "There were over 200 people there, and trying to get a hold of 200 people to interview and find out who saw what, not everyone there was involved... We're still pursuing this, it's just a lot of people to try and find."

Carroll said until the investigation is complete, the county prosecutor cannot move forward with any charges.

"This is going to be a lengthy one," he said. "Again, we have over 200 witnesses. We don't know who saw what."

Johnson said everyone in the community is appalled by the severity of the damage. Owens previously told the Free Press that more than 120 fraternity and sorority members damaged 45 rooms, causing significant damage to ceiling tiles in the hallway, broken furniture, broken windows.

Boyne Highlands officials said between 100 and 120 students stayed in multi-bedroom cottages and townhouse units. The students caused varying degrees of damage to 12 individual condo units, ranging from holes in drywall, to soiled carpeting and upholstery and broken furniture.

An open letter of apology was posted on the Central Student Government's website over the weekend, which called the incident "an act of shocking disrespect." The letter was penned by Student Body President Bobby Dishell, Interfraternity Council President Alex Krupiak and Panhellenic Association President Maddy Walsh.

"I think everyone is really upset," Johnson said. "For Treetops and Otsego County, the ski season is pretty big. For them to have those rooms out of commission, that has to be pretty tough. I think people are genuinely disgusted that they would take it to that extent. We just want to encourage our prosecuting attorney that we support whatever his decisions are in taking this forward."