News Release

2024-08-20 Missing Man Found at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Date: August 20, 2024

EMPIRE, Mich. – A man reported missing from Milwaukee was located by officials at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Tuesday afternoon, August 20. Steven Lisowski, 28, of Wisconsin, was taken into custody about 2:30 p.m. ET after an altercation between Lisowski and police officers. 

Lisowski was reported critically missing by the Milwaukee Police Department on Sunday, August 18. A critical missing alert is used by the police department when an individual may be particularly vulnerable. 

Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in searching for Lisowski beginning Sunday, August 18. A Sleeping Bear Dunes law enforcement park ranger spotted Lisowski in a car in the Shauger Hill area late Sunday, but Lisowski fled the park before park law enforcement officials made contact.  

Lisowski was located again in a wooded area off Shauger Hill Road within the park just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. An NPS law enforcement ranger and Benzie County Sheriff’s Office K-9 deputy approached him and saw what appeared to be a knife in his hand. Both officers deployed their department-issued electronic control devices, or tasers, without success. 

As officers attempted to detain Lisowski an altercation ensued before he was eventually restrained with the assistance of the Benzie County Sheriff’s Office police K-9. Lisowski and the two officers were transported to Munson Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the altercation. 

Charges against Lisowski are pending. He is expected to be booked in Grand Traverse County on August 21. The incident remains under investigation. No further information is available for release at this time. 

The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive was closed to visitors for approximately 15 minutes during this incident but reopened shortly after.  

www.nps.gov/slbe 

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