Police arrest Republican lawmaker amid gunshot reports in middle of night in Lansing

LANSING, MI — Police arrested a Republican lawmaker early Thursday in response to reports of possible gunfire in Michigan’s capital, authorities said.

Rep. Neil Friske was arrested around 2:45 a.m. “on a misdemeanor charge,” Lansing police spokesman Jordan Gulkis said.

Investigators plan to file a report with the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, Gulkis said.

A telephone message seeking comment from Friske’s office was not immediately returned. But a statement on his campaign’s Facebook page said: “Rep Friske always exercises his Second Amendment right.”

“We ask everyone for prayers and to stay tuned for updates directly from this campaign or Representative Friske himself,” the statement said.

Friske, who is running for re-election, has a conservative voting record during his first term in the House of Representatives. He represents Charlevoix and Emmet counties and parts of Cheboygan, Chippewa and Mackinac counties.

His family operates a popular fruit orchard in Charlevoix County.