Officer Colin Kacmarsky, Lansing Police Department
Prosecutor might soon decide on charges in Kacmarsky shooting
Lansing police officer left paralyzed after being shot by wife
April 15, 2010
Lansing State Journal
Kevin Grasha
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20104150326
CHARLOTTE - Eaton County Prosecutor Jeff Sauter said Wednesday he could decide soon whether to file charges in a case involving a Lansing police officer who was partially paralyzed after being shot by his wife.
Colin Kacmarsky, 33, is unable to walk due to paralysis, according to documents filed in Eaton County Circuit Court as part of the couple's divorce.
The complaint for divorce was filed Sept. 15 by his wife, Kathe, just days after she shot Kacmarsky in their Dimondale home during an apparent fight.
The divorce has not been finalized.
Prosecutors said there was evidence Kathe Kacmarsky, then 25, had been physically assaulted and injured prior to the shooting.
Colin Kacmarsky could not be reached by telephone Wednesday for comment.
His mother declined to comment.
Kathe Kacmarsky's attorney, Andrew Abood, said he did not want to discuss specifics.
"This is a situation that is a tragedy, but my client committed no crime," Abood said.
She is now living in Phoenix, according to court documents.
No details about what led to the shooting are included in documents.
They each owned firearms, the documents say.
On a Web site devoted to "alternative weapons hunting," Kathe Kacmarsky describes herself as an experienced hunter who has used a handgun, a rifle and a crossbow.
In the days after the incident, authorities said the couple refused to give statements, complicating the investigation. Sauter said both have since provided statements.
"It's still being investigated, but we hope to make a decision fairly soon," Sauter said.
That could happen within a few weeks, he said.
Colin Kacmarsky is on paid medical leave from the Lansing Police Department, spokesman Lt. Noel Garcia said.
The shooting was reported in the early-morning hours of Sept. 12 at the couple's house in the 8600 block of Jacaranda Drive.
Property records show they still own the home.
Kathe Kacmarsky "has no desire to resume residence at the marital home," according to documents filed in January.
They were married in 2005 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, court documents say. They do not have children.
Water offers freedom of movement Scuba gives new therapy options for the paralyzed
By Staff reports
The Holland Sentinel
Posted Apr 13, 2010 @ 05:30 AM
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/feature/x998218495/Water-offers-freedom-of-movement
Holland, MI — With a heavy scuba tank strapped to his back and goggles over his eyes, Colin Kacmarsky feels free.
“When you’re in the water, it’s like you’re normal,” the 33-year-old said. “I’ve only been paralyzed for six months, so I can vividly remember what it’s like to walk and swim.”
Exploring the deep end of the pool at West Ottawa’s Harbor Lights Middle School, Kacmarsky was helping out with a three-day training seminar which will give local dive instructors at Advance Scuba in Holland the tools to offer educational scuba diving programs to people with disabilities.
Leading that training was Jim Elliott, of Diveheart. Founded in 2001, the Illinois-based non-profit offers this kind of training to dive instructors around the world.
For people with disabilities, including those who’ve lost the use of their legs, scuba diving is incredibly liberating and helps forge a new identity, Elliott said.
“All of a sudden it’s Johnny the scuba diver, not Johnny the guy in the wheel chair,” Elliott said.
The training will allow Advance Scuba to partner with the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids to launch an introductory scuba program for people with disabilities in October, said Tim Marr, owner of Advance Scuba.
The program will give people a basic introduction to scuba diving. They’ll learn about gear, safety and how to suit up as well as spend time diving in the pool.
After two days training in the pool with Elliott, the Advance team invited some Mary Free Bed therapists, and Kacmarsky, a former Mary Free Bed patient, to don scuba gear, get in the water and check out the program.
“It was a 60-minute pressure relief,” said Kelly Merz, a Mary Free Bed therapist who works with adults with spinal cord injuries.
Merz herself had a spinal cord injury and uses a wheelchair. This was her first time experiencing scuba, she said.
“I can not wait to get them (the patients) in the water now,” she said. “It’s such a freedom to be under water. I was equal to everyone in the water.”
Watching Kacmarsky dart to the bottom of the pool, Sue Kurtz immediately started thinking of the people she works with at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans who would benefit from scuba. Most of the them are used to active lives, she said.
“We’re always looking for new opportunities,” she said.
Former Police Officer and Tactical Operations Team with the Charlotte Police Department [MI] COLIN KACMARSKY:
"Officer Kacmarsky began his police career with the Charlotte Police Department, as a full time officer in 1998. Officer Kacmarsky joined the Tactical Operations Team on 01 July, 2000. Officer Kacmarsky attended Street Survival School."
"STATEMENT OF PURPOSE...The ultimate goal of the Tactical Operations Team, in any incident, is to win..."
http://www.geocities.com/tacticaloperationsteam/
Lansing officer's shooting probed
Prosecutor says there's evidence wife assaulted, injured before husband shotLansing State Journal
September 15, 2009
Kevin Grasha
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090915/NEWS01/909150312
CHARLOTTE - Authorities are trying to determine if a woman who shot her husband this weekend after an apparent fight was justified in using the gun.Colin Kacmarsky, 33, a Lansing police officer, was seriously injured after being shot early Saturday morning at the couple's Dimondale home.Eaton County Prosecutor Jeff Sauter said there was evidence Kacmarsky's wife had been physically assaulted and injured prior to the shooting.
The 25-year-old woman was arrested and jailed after the incident. She was released after Kacmarsky refused to give a statement to detectives investigating the case, Sauter said.
"I decided to release her from custody and review the facts after the investigation is complete," Sauter said.
The Lansing State Journal does not name victims of domestic violence. The Eaton County Sheriff's Office would not release information about whether deputies previously had responded to the home in the 8600 block of Jacaranda Drive for any domestic-related incidents.
Lansing police Lt. Noel Garcia said Kacmarsky, who has been with the department about four years, is recovering at a local hospital.
Garcia would not comment on the extent of his injuries.
He said Kacmarsky was not on duty at the time of the shooting, which was reported at about 3 a.m. Saturday.
Additional Facts
What's next: Prosecutors will determine whether to file charges against a woman who shot her husband, a Lansing police officer.
Video by Cloudwriter: http://www.behindthebluewall.blogspot.com/
[MI] Lansing Police Officer Kacmarsky shot at home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNlvpMM9-wc
WIFE ACCUSED OF SHOOTING LANSING COP RELEASED FROM JAIL
Midday update
Landing State Journal
Matthew Miller
September 14, 2009 • From LSJ.com
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090914/NEWS01/309140005/1002/NEWS01
Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Sauter said today that his office will delay a decision on whether to charge the wife of a Lansing police officer accused of shooting him.Colin Thomas Kacmarsky, 33, of Dimondale, was shot early Saturday morning at his home in the 8600 block of Jacaranda Drive. He remains in stable condition at a local hospital, according to the Eaton County Sheriff’s Department.
His wife, whose name has not been released, was arrested Saturday and taken to the Eaton County Jail.
Officers “had probable cause to arrest her that morning, but the shooting victim refused to make a statement to ECSD investigators,” Sauter said, adding that there was evidence that the woman had been physically assaulted prior to the shooting.
“Consequently, I decided to release her from custody and review the facts after the investigation is complete,” Sauter said.
Woman Released in Off-Duty Cop Shooting
Posted: 9:59 AM
Sep 14, 2009
Reporter: Tim Gillette
WILX NEWS
http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/59224857.html
The 25-year old woman taken into custody, after an off-duty police officer was found shot in his Dimondale home, has been released, pending further investigation.
EATON COUNTY - The Eaton County Sheriff's office confirms that the woman who was detained after the shooting of an off-duty Lansing police officer has been released without charges, pending further investigation. She was released Sunday.
33-year-old Colin Kacmarsky was shot in his home in Dimondale in the early morning hours of Saturday. He remains hospitalized in stable condition according to the sheriff's office.
A spokesperson for the Eaton County Sheriff's Office would not say why the 25-year old woman, who lives with Kacmarsky, was released, or what the circumstances of the shooting were. On Saturday Sheriff's deputies said the incident appeared to be a domestic argument. No time frame was given for the conclusion of their investigation.
Wife accused of shooting Lansing cop released from jail
Midday update
September 14, 2009
Lansing State Journal
MATTHEW MILLER
SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
FROM LSJ.COM
Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Sauter said today that his office will delay a decision on whether to charge the wife of a Lansing police officer accused of shooting him.
Colin Thomas Kacmarsky, 33, of Dimondale, was shot early Saturday morning at his home in the 8600 block of Jacaranda Drive. He remains in stable condition at a local hospital, according to the Eaton County Sheriff’s Department.
His wife, whose name has not been released, was arrested Saturday and taken to the Eaton County Jail.
Officers “had probable cause to arrest her that morning, but the shooting victim refused to make a statement to ECSD investigators,” Sauter said, adding that there was evidence that the woman had been physically assaulted prior to the shooting.
“Consequently, I decided to release her from custody and review the facts after the investigation is complete,” Sauter said.
Lansing Officer Shot
A Lansing officer is shot early Saturday morning in Dimondale.
Reporter: News 10
Sep 13, 2009
http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/59135482.html
On Saturday around 3am, Eaton County Sheriff's deputies responded to a shooting at the 8000 block of Jacaranda in Dimondale.
It was the residence of 33-year old officer Colin Kacmarsky, who was transported to an area hospital with a gun shot wound.
A 25-year old female suspect living in the same residence has been arrested.
Officials are still investigating the incident, which appears to be domestic-related.
Lansing cop shot during domestic incident
Evening update
LSJ.com
September 12, 2009
Kathryn Prater
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090912/NEWS01/309120012/-1/newshome
UPDATED 9:23 PM - DIMONDALE — A Lansing police officer was shot early this morning in an incident the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office said “appears domestic related.”
Colin Thomas Kacmarsky, 33, of Dimondale was shot at 3:10 a.m. today at his home in the 8600 block of Jacaranda Drive, police said. He was transported to a local hospital, but his condition was not available.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 25-year-old woman who also lives at the home, police said. Officials would not identify the relationship between the two. The woman is being housed at the Eaton County Jail and will be arraigned Monday.
Eaton County officials would not say where Kacmarsky was shot or if he was shot with his own service weapon. Police are still investigating.
UPDATE: Suspect In Cop Shooting Releasedwlns.com
WLNS TV News
Posted: Sep 12, 2009 11:27 AM
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=11119097&nav=menu25_6
The Eaton County Sheriff's Department says the woman taken into custody in the shooting has been released without charges.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Investigators are searching for answers after a Lansing police officer is shot.
The officer was shot at his home early Saturday morning.
He is now at the hospital and officials have one person in custody.
The shooting happened in Dimondale.
The officer is 33-year-old Colin Kacmarsky.
He was shot around 3 a.m.
Detectives were at the house trying to figure out exactly what happened.
6 News talked to one woman who heard the whole thing.She says a woman was screaming and she heard a man's voice.She heard one loud scream and then a pop.
The sheriff says the shooting isn't related to Kacmarsky's work.
In fact, they say the suspect - a 25-year-old woman - lives with him at the home.
And while detectives think they know who did it, they still don't know why.
Sheriff Mike Raines Eaton County: "I don't know if it was an accident, self-defense, or intentional. We don't know that 'til we talk to the victim and sort the whole thing out."
Kacmarsky's condition is stable and he is expected to survive.
Lansing Police won't comment on the situation because the Eaton County Sheriff's Department is handling the investigation.
