An Imlay City man is facing multiple criminal charges after discharging a shotgun in his backyard, causing property damage and leading to a tense standoff with police officers. The incident occurred on Saturday and resulted in the man's arrest, with authorities believing he was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
According to audacy, the Imlay City Police were alerted to a man firing multiple shotgun shots in the 400 block of Bancroft Street. The gunfire caused damage to a neighbor's home and nearby property. An officer arrived "within minutes" of the first 911 calls but was met with more gunfire from the suspect, who attempted to communicate with the officer but was ignored.
The situation deescalated when the suspect's gun jammed, allowing police to disarm him and make the arrest. In a statement, Imlay City Police Chief Brett Selby noted in an audacy report, "Still the officer chose to use restraint in deescalating the situation through verbal commands and avoiding deadly force." The arrest was a joint effort between Imlay City Police and a Lapeer County Sheriff's deputy. During the arrest, the suspect kicked out the rearview window of the deputy's car and damaged the rear door of the police vehicle.
After being taken into custody, the suspect was booked for possession of a firearm while intoxicated, reckless discharge of a firearm with damage to property, and felony destruction of government property, as reported by The Detroit News.
An ongoing investigation led by Detective Hadfield and additional officers ensued, including a neighborhood canvass to assess further damages. The suspect was placed in the Lapeer County Jail and is expected to undergo a mental health evaluation, as noted by midmichigannow. There were no injuries reported as a result of the altercation.
