Find Police Records in Branch County
Branch County police records are maintained by the Branch County Sheriff's Office in Coldwater, Michigan, and separately by the Coldwater Police Department for incidents within city limits. These records include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, jail records, and warrant information. You can request Branch County police records by submitting a written FOIA request to the sheriff's office at 570 Marshall Road or by contacting the Coldwater Police Department directly for city incidents.
Branch County Police Records at a Glance
Branch County Police Records Overview
Branch County sits in south-central Michigan near the Indiana border. Two main agencies hold police records for the county: the Branch County Sheriff's Office for incidents in the unincorporated county, and the Coldwater Police Department for incidents within the city of Coldwater. If you are not sure which agency responded to the incident you are looking into, the case or incident number from any paperwork you received is the fastest way to trace which office has the file.
The sheriff's office maintains incident reports for all deputy calls, documenting the date, time, location, names of involved parties, charges if any, and the officer's narrative. Arrest records cover people booked into the Branch County Jail. Accident reports filed by county deputies use the UD-10 form and can be requested from the sheriff or purchased through the Michigan Traffic Crash Purchasing System. Jail records and warrant information are also held by the sheriff's office, though active warrants in open cases may be withheld under MCL § 15.243.
The Coldwater Police Department holds separate records for incidents that occur within city limits. Their number is (517) 279-7491. For city records, submit your FOIA request to the city police rather than the county sheriff. Court records for Branch County are searchable through the Michigan Courts Case Search tool for free. Statewide criminal history is available through the Michigan State Police ICHAT system for $10 per search.
Branch County Sheriff's Office Contact
The Michigan State Police at michigan.gov/msp offers ICHAT criminal history searches, traffic crash report access, and FOIA submission tools for state-level records. For Branch County-specific police records, contact the sheriff's office directly.
The Branch County Sheriff's Office is at 570 Marshall Road, Coldwater, MI 49036. The main phone number is (517) 278-8722. You can fax documents to (517) 278-7334. The county clerk's office handles FOIA coordination for county-level records and can be reached at (517) 279-4303. For city incidents, contact the Coldwater Police Department at (517) 279-7491.
The sheriff's office handles records inquiries during standard business hours. Call (517) 278-8722 to ask about the current FOIA submission process, whether email or fax is accepted, and what to include in your request. Having an incident number, a date, and the names of involved parties ready will help speed up the conversation.
Note: Branch County records for incidents in the city of Coldwater are held by the Coldwater Police Department, not the county sheriff. Make sure to contact the right office for your request.
Requesting Branch County Police Records via FOIA
Michigan FOIA at MCL § 15.231 et seq. and Public Act 442 of 1976 gives any person the right to request public records from government agencies in Michigan. MCL § 15.233 says no reason is required and no residency requirement applies. This law covers all Branch County agencies including the sheriff's office, the county clerk, and the Coldwater Police Department.
Write a FOIA request describing the record you want clearly enough for staff to find it. Include the incident date, location, names of people involved, and a case or incident number if you have one. Add your full name, mailing address, phone number, and email. Mail or deliver your request to the Branch County Sheriff's Office at 570 Marshall Road, Coldwater, MI 49036, or call (517) 278-8722 first to ask about email or fax options.
The agency must respond within 5 business days under MCL § 15.235. A single extension of up to 10 additional business days is allowed with written notice. If your request is denied, you have 180 days to file a written appeal with the head of the agency. A circuit court action is available if the appeal is also denied. Courts may award attorney fees when a denial is found wrongful.
Fees for Branch County Records
Branch County follows the standard Michigan FOIA fee schedule under MCL § 15.234. Paper copies cost $0.10 per page for standard sizes. Labor is charged at the lowest-paid capable employee's hourly rate plus up to 50% for fringe benefits, calculated in 15-minute increments. Searches under 15 minutes carry no labor charge. Actual postage applies for mailed records.
A 50% deposit may be required if the estimated total exceeds $50. Low-income requesters can claim a $20 fee waiver by submitting an affidavit of public assistance or indigency. This waiver is available twice per calendar year and does not apply when the request is being made on behalf of a paying third party. Always ask for a fee estimate before submitting a large or complex request.
Nearby Counties
Branch County is in south Michigan near Indiana. Records from nearby counties can be accessed below.