KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — An Allegan County man who allegedly went on a disjointed and violent crime spree in Kalamazoo County on Tuesday, was charged with ten counts and immediately ordered to undergo a psychiatric exam by a Kalamazoo County District Court judge on Thursday.
The family of 28-year-old Matthew Steppenwolf says his actions are totally out of character for the young father, who is now being held without bond.
Among the charges, armed robbery, felony assault, carjacking, arson, ethnic intimidation and multiple gun felonies. A court report says Steppenwolf admitted his involvement in the crimes to a detective when interviewed after his arrest.
Prosecutors say the Gun Plain Township man robbed a gas station clerk of $10 of gas at the point of a shotgun, firebombed two homes and shot one of them up, wounding Betty Jo Brewer. He then allegedly carjacked a Chevrolet and got involved in a high-speed chase trying to make his getaway.
He almost succeeded but he lost control of the car on a rural road in southern Kalamazoo County, smashing it into a tree.
Steppenwolf has no previous record and his family is stunned.
Normally the motion for a psychiatric exam comes after an attorney has been appointed and they make the request, but there are fears that Steppenwolf may be suicidal, and the judge didn’t wait.
