MARQUETTE — A Skandia man faces a pair of charges relating to an incident in Skandia Township that started Saturday night and ultimately involved an elite Michigan State Police response team.

According to a press release from the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to residences on Carlshend Road at 8:50 p.m. Saturday for a complaint of an animal-on-animal bite. Once there, sheriff’s deputies and troopers from the Michigan State Police post in Negaunee were contacted by a neighbor of Kyle Beauchemin, who reported that his donkey had been bitten by Beauchemin’s dog.

The officers, who attempted to find Beauchemin but were unable, cleared the location pending contact with Beauchemin.

At about 9:50, officers were send to Beauchemin’s residence for a domestic/hostage situation. It was reported to officers that Beauchemin was inside the residence with four children, his girlfriend and an estimated 28 pit bull-mix dogs in and around the residence.

Sheriff’s deputies obtained a warrant for Beauchemin’s arrest and a search warrant for Beauchemin’s residence. Additionally, the MSP Emergency Support Team was activated to help resolve matters.

At about 5 a.m. Sunday, trained negotiators started an attempt to get Beauchemin to exit the residence peacefully. When that failed, tactical entry to the residence was made at about 10:50 a.m.

Police said Beauchemin resisted arrest and assaulted some of the MSP EST members. While the girlfriend and children were unharmed, one of the dogs was dispatched during entry into the residence.

Beauchemin was lodged in the Marquette County Jail awaiting arraignment which took place Monday afternoon. He is charged with unlawful imprisonment, which carries a $500,000 bond and domestic violence, which carries a 10 percent of $500,000 bond. The matter remains under investigation.

In addition to the MSP, deputies were assisted by Forsyth Township Police Department officers, the Sands/West Branch EMS, the Forsyth Township EMS, UPHS-EMS, the Community Covenant Church and UPAWS.

Bud Sargent can be reached at 906-228-2500, extension 544. His email address is bsargent@miningjournal.net.