White Lake Man Stopped at Gunpoint During Search for I-96 Shooter

A White Lake man on his way to work was pulled over and searched at gunpoint Monday morning after another suspected shooting on I-96.

Brian Tajer was driving southbound on U.S. 23, just south of the I-96 and U.S. 23 exchange when he was pulled over at about 9:15 a.m.

“They (police) told me that they believed there was a shooting on 23 this morning and that they are looking at Cavaliers,” said Tajer, who drives a 2005 black Chevy Cavalier.

Police are searching for a gunman who is suspected of more than 20 shootings along the I-96 corridor. According to reports, police are investigating what may be another related shooting incident that occurred Monday morning on southbound U.S 23 north of Brighton.

(See Police Shut Down I-96 While Investigating Possible Morning Shooting)

Tajer, 26, is married to White Lake Patch editor Brooke Tajer. He was on his way to work in Ann Arbor when he was pulled over. He said he admits it was a scary moment as both a state police and local police officer had their guns pointed at him as he was removed from his vehicle and searched for weapons. 

“They obviously kept their guard up by having their guns pointed at me, which I understand, when you have a shooter on the loose, you don’t want to get shot yourself,” he said.

Brian Tajer said he was walked to the rear of his vehicle where he kept his hands on the trunk while he and his car were searched for weapons.

After the police search, Tajer said police informed him that his car was radioed to other local police vehicles, alerting the other officers that his car has been searched and cleared. 

Tajer, who eventually made it to work Monday morning, said he didn’t see any other cars pulled over and searched, but said he heard there were more. He also said he was grateful that police are searching for the suspected shooter. 

“I was completely fine with what they did,” Tajer said. “And I’m glad they’re out there searching that much for him.”

A task force was created to find the man suspected of the shooting incidents in several different counties. On Saturday, two shootings were reported near Fowlerville, with one victim being treated for a gunshot wound. The man was reportedly on his way to the World Series game at Comerica Park on Saturday night.