TRAVERSE CITY -- Deputy Kipp Needham is fired from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office following an assault investigation and jail sentence.
On June 1, 2010 Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Deputy Kipp Needham was arrested by Michigan State Police Troopers from the Traverse City Post.
Needham was arrested for two counts of domestic violence, possession of a firearm while intoxicated, and resisting & obstructing a police officer causing injury.
On January 26, Deputy Kipp Needham pled guilty to a charge of attempted resisting & obstructing a police officer. He was sentence on February 16 to six months in jail with work release and an opportunity for Community Corrections after 45 days in jail.
An internal investigation was completed by the Sheriff's Office which included the review of the police report, medical evaluations and an interview with Deputy Needham.
According to the report released by the Sheriff, the internal investigation revealed that Deputy Needham, while under the influence of alcohol, was in possession of a loaded firearm, did assault his wife and did assault a police officer. As a result, Deputy Kipp Needham was terminated from his employment with the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday.
In the news release about the situation Sheriff Bensley states: Deputy Needham was a 12 year employee of the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office with an excellent work history and expertise in traffic safety and accident investigation. However, the actions on June 1, 2010 involving alcohol and assaults were serious enough to warrant his dismissal.
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