Sheriff critical of Yonkers reports

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf criticized the Michigan State Police and 24 Hour News 8 for a report that Deputy Christopher Yonkers was off-duty when killed in a motorcycle crash.

The state police "have no authority as to whether or not Deputy Yonkers was on or off duty," he wrote in a news release. "MSP's authority stops at the internal investigation of their troopers' actions."

He wrote he found it "even more appalling that News 8 would do an 'on camera' interview with the Deputy Yonkers' children without his widowed wife present. These ambush tactics are tasteless, irresponsible journalism."

A 24 Hour News 8 crew drove to the Yonkers' home Thursday seeking comment from his widow, Kari Yonkers, after learning of the state police findings.

She wasn't home, but spoke to a reporter over the phone, approving the interview with her children -- Anna Yonkers, 18, and Christian Yonkers, 16 -- before it was aired.

Anna Yonkers disputed the state police findings.

Deputy Yonkers' mother, Pat Thiery, also invited the 24 Hour News 8 crew to her home for a follow-up interview.

Friday afternoon, the sheriff said he had been told 24 Hour News 8 did not obtain permission from Kari Yonkers.

State police at first said Yonkers was off-duty when he was killed in a crash on Oct. 17, 2008.

It was Sheriff Dar Leaf who first asked a state police trooper -- a day after the crash -- if it was possible that Yonkers was on-duty, according to documents obtained by 24 Hour News 8.

That trooper, Phillip McNabnay, wrote a report several days later, suggesting Yonkers was working at the time for the state police's Southwest Enforcement Team, to which he was assigned. (see related story). That trooper has since been reprimanded.

The trooper faxed his "speculative" report to the sheriff on Oct. 20, 2008, according to documents. That day, Sheriff Leaf, announced Yonkers was on-duty when he died.

In his press release, Leaf said a hearing before the Workers Compensation Agency in Grand Rapids on Nov. 10 could determine whether Yonkers was on duty that day.