Commissioner Jewett Reportedly Arrested in Undercover Operation

The Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office was involved in a multi-entity undercover operation this week that resulted in the arrest of three individuals, including one Grand Traverse County commissioner, Sheriff Mike Shea has confirmed to The Ticker. While Shea declined to name the commissioner pending arraignment, multiple officials who were informed of the arrest told The Ticker it was Commissioner Brad Jewett.

Shea said the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office, Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Traverse City Police Department, and Genesee County Sheriff's Office conducted an undercover operation June 19 and 20 that led to three individuals being arrested in Grand Traverse County. Shea could not provide more details on the case or charges, as it remains an active investigation, but confirmed a county commissioner was one of the three people arrested. 

County Administrator Nate Alger also declined to name the individual arrested, but said he was informed by Shea that a commissioner had been arrested during a sting operation for solicitation of a prostitute. The commissioner was taken to Leelanau County Jail, bonded out, and immediately called Alger, according to the county administrator. The remaining county commissioners have since been informed of the arrest.

Multiple county and city officials who were informed of the arrestee's identity confirmed to The Ticker it was Commissioner Brad Jewett. Jewett could not be immediately reached for comment. Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney Noelle Moeggenberg said she's aware of the case and is awaiting a report. Because county commissioners oversee Moeggenberg's budget, she plans to refer the case to the state attorney general's office for review (the same process followed for other previous county commissioner arrests). The state attorney general's office can decide to either keep the case or assign it to a special prosecutor locally to bring charges. A decision on that could potentially come within the next week, Moeggenberg said.

All nine county commissioners - including Jewett - are up for reelection this fall. Shea, who is also running for election as sheriff, said he will likely refer further questions about the case to his undersheriff to avoid any perceived conflicts of interest involving another candidate on the ballot.