Pittsfield Township police use Taser to subdue man accused of backing his car into a patrol car
A man was taken for a psychological exam after Pittsfield Township police say he advanced at an officer holding a tire iron and deliberately backed his vehicle into a patrol car.
The man, who was eventually shot with a Taser and was arrested, could now face criminal charges, reports said.
Officers were dispatched to the 4500 block of Washtenaw Avenue at 6:37 p.m. Dec. 31 after a caller reported seeing a man swinging an object at passing vehicles.
When officers arrived, the man was standing outside an Ann Arbor Transportation Authority bus yelling for the bus driver to open the door, reports said. The man was holding a silver object in his right hand and a mailbox in his left hand, police said.
The officer ordered the man to drop the objects, and he began walking toward the officer, reports said. The officer prepared to Taser the man, but he turned around, returned to his vehicle on Washtenaw Avenue and drove away, reports said.
Officers followed the man's car as he drove behind a business, and they blocked his car in, reports said. Police ordered him to drop the tire iron and turn his car off, but he instead backed his vehicle into one of the police cars, reports said.
Officers were able to open the man's car door and Taser him, then grab the tire iron, reports said. The man was removed from the car and was taken into custody, reports said.
The case was turned over to Washtenaw County prosecutors to review for possible criminal charges.
Police said the damage to the patrol car was minimal.
Comments
Awakened
Mon, Jan 10, 2011 : 8:35 a.m.
I would like to point out to the anti-taser people that this is one of those times where they should acknowledge that 25 years ago the police would have shot him with guns for coming at them with a tire iron. Maybe he was mentally ill. Maybe he was suicidal (suicide by cop). But now he will get help and we don't have a couple of officers in therapy after killing him. Win. Win.
Goodphotographer
Sun, Jan 9, 2011 : 2:50 a.m.
They have fazers now? Next they will be beaming folks to jail.
DBH
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 10:42 p.m.
Nephilim, my comment was not addressed to poor deb (assuming you meant Deborah), as I thought her comment was appropriate, accurate and insightful. My comment related to the one submitted by A2Susie. While I understand (and understood) that laser may have been a misspelling, I try to make as few assumptions as possible. I can imagine several scenarios in which personal experiences with lasers or Tasers might lead one to make a comment using one word for the other as a play on words, or to make a point (which, admittedly, might be obscure to most other than the one submitting it). When Hunterjim commented that he got it, I thought perhaps he had an insight into A2Susies comment that I had missed. That is why I did not comment when she had submitted her comment, but only after he had. You seem to have made several assumptions yourself (A2Susies comment was typed on an iPad; that the spelling of Taser was probably changed by a spell check (and, by implication, that she then failed to review the text before submitting her comment); that I am trying to appear more intelligent than A2Susie). Nonetheless, you admit that she may or may not have meant laser. That was my point if she DID mean laser, what was she trying to say? If it had been a simple spelling error, A2Susie easily could have simply submitted another comment stating that fact (and, of course, she still can). Hunterjim could have said I get it A2Sue (assuming you meant Taser instead of laser). Just as I expect AnnArbor.coms writers and moderators to be accurate and accountable for what they submit on the website, I hold myself to the same standard and believe other commenters should as well (granted, a personal opinion, but I have never heard or read a good argument to the contrary). Be careful about making assumptions about the motivations of others.
Nephilim
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 8:53 p.m.
@dbh. Is it difficult to look past one letter that was probably changed by the spell check on her iPad from taser to laser? I understand it significantly changes the dynamics of the story. One could probably dare speculate based of the main content of the article that they (cops) were not shooting/ subduing people with lasers. It seems to me like more of a petty attack to try and appear more intelligent than poor deb who may or may not have meant laser. I guess though she might be onto something....maybe the cops are now shooting people with lasers. Could be the new up and coming next generation of police brutality. Watch your eyes folks. Wear laser repellant goggles always.
YpsiLivin
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 6:21 p.m.
...Pittsfield Township police say he advanced at an officer holding a tire iron Why was the officer holding a tire iron? Doesn't the PTPD issue guns anymore?
stevek
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
Why assume he is mentally ill? Maybe he is sane but has anger management problems. Not everybody needs an excuse for doing the wrong thing.
a2baggagehandler
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 3:55 p.m.
fascinating
DBH
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 3:02 p.m.
And, of course, A2Susie is also welcome (and invited) to clarify her own comment regarding "laser" being more accurate than "Taser."
DBH
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 2:05 p.m.
Hunterjim, please enlighten me/us regarding how "subdued by laser" is more accurate than "shot with a Taser." I suppose "subdued by a Taser" also would work, but a laser was not involved.
Deborah
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 1:45 p.m.
mainstreaming the mentally ill is a good thing of the general populace has some understanding on how to handle someone acting out. To the Credit of the department he did not wind up dead as so many others displaying similar behavior have had happen to them.
Hunterjim
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.
I get it A2Sue
Linda Peck
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 12:58 p.m.
In reference to A2Susie's comment, I feel that "shot with a Taser" is accurate as a Taser is propelled with a gun device.
A2Susie
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 12:37 p.m.
The man, who was eventually shot with a Taser and was arrested, could now face criminal charges, reports said. I think the term "subdued by laser" would be more accurate.
DFSmith
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 12:18 p.m.
Looks like we have a lot of mentally ill, irrational people in the greater Ann Arbor area.