Find Police Records in Huron County
Huron County police records are public documents maintained by the Huron County Sheriff's Office in Bad Axe. These records include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, marine patrol records, and jail information. This page explains how to search, request, and access Huron County police records through the sheriff's office, state databases, and the Michigan FOIA process.
Huron County Police Records at a Glance
Huron County Sheriff's Office
The Huron County Sheriff's Office is located at 120 S. Heisterman Street, Bad Axe, MI 48413. The main phone number is (989) 269-6421. The fax is (989) 269-9264. For general county business, call (989) 269-9271. The county website is at co.huron.mi.us. The sheriff's office is the main agency for police records in unincorporated Huron County and many townships.
Huron County is known for its agricultural landscape and its shoreline along Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay. Because of this, the sheriff's office handles not only standard land-based patrol records but also marine patrol records for incidents on the water and snowmobile and ATV patrol records. These specialty records are available through the same FOIA request process as other police records. If you need records from a city police department within Huron County, contact that city agency directly since each department keeps its own files.
The Huron County government site at co.huron.mi.us lists all county departments and contact information. Start here to locate the sheriff's FOIA contact details or find out which department handles a specific type of record in Huron County.
Contact the Huron County Sheriff's Office at (989) 269-6421 for records questions. Staff can tell you what forms to complete, where to send your request, and what the estimated cost will be before you commit to a large records order.
Huron County Police Records Available
The records you can request from the Huron County Sheriff's Office cover a broad range. Incident reports document any call where a deputy responded and wrote up the situation. Arrest records show booking details and charges. Accident reports cover crashes investigated by sheriff's deputies, filed on the standard Michigan UD-10 form. Jail records track people held at the county facility, including booking and release dates.
Marine patrol records cover incidents on the water involving Huron County waters along Lake Huron and the bay. These are uncommon in most Michigan counties but are a regular part of what the Huron County Sheriff's Office handles. Snowmobile and ATV patrol records document off-road and trail incidents investigated by sheriff's deputies. All of these fall under Michigan FOIA and can be requested in the same way as any other police record.
How to Request Huron County Police Records
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL § 15.231 et seq., Public Act 442 of 1976, gives every person the right to request government records. No reason is needed. You do not have to live in Michigan. The law covers police reports, arrest records, dispatch logs, jail records, and most other documents held by the sheriff's office.
Requests must be in writing. Write a clear description of what you want. Include your name and contact information, the date of the incident, and any names or case numbers you have. Submit your request to the Huron County Sheriff's Office by mail to 120 S. Heisterman Street, Bad Axe, MI 48413, in person at the office, by fax to (989) 269-9264, or by email through the county website. FOIA requests may also be coordinated through the County Clerk's Office at (989) 269-9271.
Under MCL § 15.235, the agency has 5 business days to respond. Fax and email requests count as received the next business day. If the request is large or complicated, the office may extend by up to 10 additional business days. They must send written notice stating the reason. A denial must also be in writing, citing the specific MCL § 15.243 exemption. You can appeal within 180 days to the county board of commissioners.
Note: When contacting the county clerk's office about FOIA, confirm whether they handle the request or redirect it to the sheriff's office directly, as each office manages its own records separately.
Police Record Fees in Huron County
Under MCL § 15.234, paper copies cost $0.10 per page. Labor is charged at the lowest-paid qualified employee's rate plus up to 50% for fringe benefits. Labor is billed in 15-minute increments with no charge for searches that take under 15 minutes. Non-standard copies, like digital files on USB media, are billed at actual cost. Mailing costs are the least expensive delivery confirmation option.
If the estimated cost tops $50, the office can ask for a 50% deposit before it starts work. If you have a prior unpaid FOIA request, full prepayment may be required. Low-income requesters can apply for a $20 fee waiver using a notarized affidavit. This waiver is available twice per year. It does not apply if you are requesting on behalf of someone else who is paying for the records.
State Databases for Huron County Records
Several state tools let you search records tied to Huron County. ICHAT, run by the Michigan State Police, covers felony and serious misdemeanor criminal history from all 83 counties. The cost is $10 per search. Use it at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat. ICHAT does not cover traffic offenses or juvenile records.
Court records for Huron County appear in the free Michigan Courts Case Search tool. The 52nd Circuit Court handles felony cases, and the 73rd District Court covers misdemeanors and traffic matters. Search by name or case number to see charges and case outcomes. The sex offender registry at mipsor.state.mi.us is free and searchable by name or location. State corrections records appear in OTIS at mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2.aspx. The Michigan Attorney General's FOIA guidance is at michigan.gov/ag/foia if you have a denied request or fee dispute.
Traffic Crash Records in Huron County
Traffic accident reports in Huron County use the UD-10 form. If a Huron County deputy responded, request the report from the sheriff's office through a FOIA request. If a Michigan State Police trooper handled the crash, you can purchase the report through the MSP Traffic Crash Purchasing System. Reports are typically ready 7 to 10 days after the incident. Insurance companies, attorneys, and involved parties are the most common requesters.
Bring or send the date, location, and names of parties involved when you request a crash report. The $0.10 per page copy fee applies under MCL § 15.234. Some agencies also accept requests through third-party services. Ask the Huron County Sheriff's Office whether they use any online report delivery options for accident records.
Nearby Counties
Huron County occupies the tip of Michigan's Thumb region. These counties border Huron and each maintains its own sheriff's records separately.