Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says there will be no charges against a state trooper who shot a Houghton woman after she refused to obey commands from officers.
On April 12, 2021, Michigan State Police troopers responded to a home in Houghton following a social media post by Ashley Novak in which she had a gun pointed at her head with the caption, “if the cops come, it’s them, then me.”
Novak had previous involvement with law enforcement and three days prior called 9-1-1 to request someone come to her residence before she “f—–g kills someone”.
Police called the house phone after seeing the latest social media post. A man answered and reported hearing four gun shots. Novak was the only other person in the home at that time.
When officers arrived, it took about 20 minutes to locate Novak in a truck parked on the property, holding a gun. She ultimately exited the truck but refused to obey troopers’ commands to drop the gun.
She began walking back toward the house where the male occupant was inside. As she opened the front door, still disobeying commands, three officers fired their weapons. She was shot in the midsection and treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital.
An investigation conducted by MSP and the PIU team’s review of all relevant reports determined the officers were justified in the shooting.
Separate to that review, a felony warrant has been authorized for charges against Novak for resisting and obstructing state troopers, felonious assault and felony firearm.
The Department is in the process of getting her arraigned on the felony warrant in this case.
The filing that determined charges are not warranted against officers involved in the Novak case can be read on the Department’s website for additional information.
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