FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 8, 2021
Contact: Ryan Bridges, bridgesr@kalamazoocity.org, 269-762-2922
Kalamazoo, Mich. – Officers from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) responded to the 1200 block of N. Church Street to investigate the report of felonious assault where a firearm was pointed at the reporting victims on the evening of Wednesday, April 7,2021.
When officers arrived they located the suspected vehicle that was occupied with persons of interest related to the assault. During the investigation, one of the occupants was ordered out of the vehicle. As they stepped out of the vehicle, the officers conducted a search of the individuals.
During this search, a firearm was found and the subject began actively fighting with officers. Additional officers were requested to the scene to help safely detain the individual suspected of the felonious assault. The first subject, a 15-year-old Kalamazoo resident, sustained only minor injuries and was arrested on multiple felony charges.
After the first subject was apprehended, a second subject from the vehicle also began fighting with officers. This second subject was arrested without any injuries on felony charges stemming from the investigation.
While being transported, the juvenile suspect complained of the tightness of the handcuffs and, within sound judgement and within policy, the officer stopped to check/adjust the handcuffs as needed to prevent any potential injury. While adjusting the handcuffs, the subject tried to escape police custody by pushing past the officer and later biting the officer multiple times on her head. The officer was able to secure the juvenile back in the vehicle without further injury and continued the transport to the hospital for a medical evaluation from the original incident.
A subsequent search of the vehicle on Church Street located a second handgun related to the original felonious assault complaint. In total, 3 Kalamazoo residents were arrested on numerous felony charges and 2 firearms recovered.
“At the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, we are committed to providing fair and impartial treatment to citizens during every encounter – including during investigations – and treating everyone involved with dignity and respect,” said Vernon Coakley, Chief of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. Body camera and vehicle dash camera footage from this incident as well as police reports are being reviewed to add clarity to the actualities about what happened in this situation. Furthermore, we will be working with the prosecutor as to when we can release captured video footage, so our community has the facts.”
###
