Andrial Ortiz, a 30-year-old Lansing resident, is currently facing 17 felony charges after a confrontation with the Lansing Police Department (LPD) in April of last year. During a traffic stop that escalated into a physical altercation, Ortiz allegedly managed to disarm officers, discharging a firearm and wounding one officer in the process. This recent arraignment marked a serious turn in the case that has caught the attention of the state's legal system.
According to a press release on the Michigan Attorney General's website, the incident unfolded on April 10, 2024, when LPD officers stopped Ortiz's vehicle. The situation deteriorated rapidly after officers found suspected drugs and attempted to take Ortiz into custody. He is charged with resisting arrest and firing a gun, resulting in one officer being shot in the leg. Ortiz also sustained a gunshot wound, from which he has recovered. The AG's office has declared the LPD officer's use of force as justified.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel weighed in on the severity of disarming a police officer, dubbing it a "reckless act" that endangers officers and the public. "My office is committed to ensuring police can do their jobs as safely as possible, and we will work to hold this individual accountable in the courts," Nessel said, as reported by the Michigan Attorney General's office.
Ortiz's charges include, but are not limited to, resisting and obstructing a police officer causing serious impairment, disarming a police officer, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and multiple counts of felony firearm. Furthermore, with his status as a Habitual Fourth Offender, Ortiz is facing heightened scrutiny and potential penalties. Following his arraignment before Magistrate Laura Millmore, he is slated to reappear before the court on August 22 for a probable cause conference, with a preliminary examination set for August 29 before Judge Cynthia Ward. After receiving a $100,000 bond, Ortiz now awaits the legal process.
