ATV assault victim released
HANCOCK — Police said the victim of a Sunday ATV assault was released from the hospital and is recovering at home.
They have also named the suspect in the ATV assault and other vandalism incidents committed the same day.
In a release Thursday afternoon, Hancock police identified the suspect as Joshua Kemppainen, 22, of Quincy Township. Kemppainen was found dead at his residence Monday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after notifying police he was responsible for the Sunday incidents and telling them to come get him. Police had also found clothes and a four-wheeler matching the ones spotted in surveillance footage Sunday.
Kemppainen had no prior known contacts with local law enforcement, police said.
Kemppainen had torn down a Donald Trump yard sign on the 80-year-old man’s house on Anthony Street, police said. When the man went to put it back up, Kemppainen rode back and ran the man over. He was taken to UP Health – Portage, where he had been in critical condition.
Other incidents included slashing the valve stems of two vehicles bearing stickers supportive of Donald Trump or law enforcement. On one of the vehicles, he had also smashed windows, bashed in lights and ripped off a rearview mirror.