KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo Township officers didn’t know what to expect when they were dispatched to a man with a knife in a parking lot early Friday.
Family members told police he appeared to be having a mental health crisis. That’s why he is being cared for at a psychiatric facility and not in a County Jail cell, and may be lucky to be there after he endangered lives.
The suspect first threatened Kalamazoo Township Officers with a knife in the parking lot of a business on East Main just after 8:00 am Friday, and reportedly refused to comply with verbal commands.
The 26-year-old jumped into the running car of a family member and rammed a Township Patrol Car escaping the parking lot.
Witnesses say he led a parade of police cars on a high speed chase that ended in Allegan County
Officers were finally able to subdue him when he tried to flee on foot from the car.
Chief Brian Ergang credits training on how to deal with the mentally ill for the outcome of the morning’s events.
They took him straight to the Hospital for evaluation, where he remains at last word.
They plan to submit their file to the Prosecutor for a consideration of charges.
