WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICHIGAN
A marijuana cigarette discovered inside a county-issued SUV previously assigned to Alyshia Dyer prompted Washtenaw County officials to commission an outside investigation, according to statements made by county officials and reporting published by MLive.
According to multiple unnamed sources cited by MLive, the partially burned marijuana cigarette was reportedly discovered in June 2025 on the driver’s seat of a county-owned SUV that had been assigned to Sheriff Dyer. The vehicle had reportedly been turned in for replacement and was later scheduled for transfer and auction processing.
County officials retained outside legal counsel to conduct an independent review of the incident. According to statements provided by Washtenaw County Administrator Gregory Dill, the investigation did not determine the origin of the marijuana cigarette or establish that any county policies or laws had been violated.
County Policies and Michigan Law
County policies reportedly prohibit the possession or use of controlled substances, including marijuana, while on duty or inside county-owned vehicles.
Under Michigan law, marijuana consumption while operating a motor vehicle is prohibited. State law also requires marijuana being transported in a vehicle to be stored in a trunk or another area not readily accessible from the interior passenger compartment.
No criminal charges or disciplinary findings related to the incident have been publicly announced.
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Sheriff Dyer Denies Ownership of Marijuana Cigarette
In statements provided to MLive, Sheriff Dyer denied the marijuana cigarette belonged to her and stated she does not smoke marijuana.
According to Dyer, the SUV had previously been assigned to former Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton before she took office.
Dyer stated she personally checked the vehicle before returning it and said her assistant also searched the SUV before it was dropped off for transfer.
“The last time I had the vehicle, there was nothing in it,” Dyer told MLive.
Dyer also stated she could not confirm whether anyone else may have accessed the vehicle after it was turned over. According to her account, the SUV had reportedly been parked inside a gated sheriff’s office area.
Outside Investigation Conducted by Law Firm
According to county officials and Dyer’s public statements, the county retained outside investigators associated with the law firm Dykema Gossett to conduct the review.
Dyer stated she declined to participate in an interview with investigators based on advice from legal counsel and because she maintained she had no involvement with the marijuana cigarette.
County Administrator Dill defended the use of an outside investigation, stating the county considered the matter significant due to the involvement of county property and the importance of public confidence.
Dill stated:
- “The County takes allegations involving County property, employee or elected official conduct, or potential policy violations seriously, regardless of the individual involved.”
- “Given the nature of the concern and the importance of maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the process, the County determined that it was appropriate to retain an independent outside investigator to conduct a neutral review of the matter.”
According to Dill, investigators ultimately did not reach a definitive conclusion regarding how the marijuana cigarette ended up inside the vehicle.
Sheriff Criticizes Scope of Investigation
Sheriff Dyer publicly criticized aspects of the outside review, describing it as incomplete and questioning the county’s decision to commission the investigation.
According to Dyer, the investigation did not reportedly include:
- A review of surveillance footage from the vehicle storage area
- An examination of key card access records
- An interview with at least one sheriff’s office staff member she considered relevant
Dyer also characterized the use of outside investigators as “unprecedented” compared to prior county practices.
Initially, Dyer reportedly stated the investigative report could not be publicly released because it was protected by attorney-client privilege. She later posted a redacted version of the report on Facebook.
Additional County Scrutiny Involving Sheriff’s Office
The marijuana-cigarette investigation comes amid additional scrutiny involving the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.
According to publicly reported information, another outside law firm is currently reviewing allegations involving former sheriff’s office sergeant Jeremy Yono. Reports indicate Yono resigned while under investigation over allegations involving an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, including alleged on-duty sexual interactions.
The matter reportedly contributed to broader disputes between Sheriff Dyer and county commissioners regarding oversight and human resources authority within the sheriff’s office.
That dispute previously resulted in litigation filed by Dyer against county officials before the matter was later resolved through a legal settlement in March 2026.
Current Status
At this time:
- No criminal charges have been announced related to the marijuana-cigarette discovery
- County officials state the investigation was inconclusive
- Sheriff Dyer denies ownership or knowledge of the marijuana cigarette
- A redacted version of the investigative report has reportedly been publicly released by Dyer
- County officials maintain the outside investigation was appropriate given the circumstances
FAQ
Was Sheriff Alyshia Dyer charged with a crime?
No criminal charges related to the incident have been publicly announced as of this publication.
Did investigators determine who owned the marijuana cigarette?
According to county officials, the investigation did not determine how the marijuana cigarette ended up in the vehicle or who it belonged to.
Why did the county hire outside investigators?
County officials stated an outside investigation was commissioned to ensure an independent and objective review due to the public nature of the matter.
Did Sheriff Dyer cooperate with investigators?
Dyer stated her office cooperated with the review, but she personally declined an interview based on legal advice.
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