SHELBY TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - A man and his teenage sons are facing multiple charges for a brutal attack on police officers in Shelby Township last weekend.
The Shelby Township Police Department said the incident began while officers were following up on a call about four people in a Cadillac Escalade who allegedly shot at innocent bystanders around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9.
A witness provided authorities with the license plate number of the suspect SUV and officers went to the address the plate was registered to in the 51000 block of Clear Spring.
According to the department, when officers arrived at the home, they noticed the Escalade in the driveway and, after speaking to residents at the address, decided to impound the vehicle, which they believed to be involved "in the commission of a felony."
But 55-year-old resident, Sam Kassab, tried to prevent the Escalade from being towed -- and the encounter escalated from there.
"Kassab, started ordering his 15-year-old and 16-year-old sons to block the tow truck with another vehicle so it couldn't leave," the department stated.
Kassab then allegedly began pushing around the officers, who then informed him that he was under arrest. A physical fight broke out between the 55-year-old man and officers before police were able to get him to the ground to handcuff him.
"At this point, Kassab's 15-year-old son snuck up and violently attacked both the sergeant and officer who were attempting to arrest the elder Kassab," the Shelby Township Police Department added. "Additional officers arrived on scene, and all three were taken into custody."
The sergeant and the officer were rushed to a local hospital with moderate to severe injuries. The officer sustained lacerations to the face and was treated for a concussion after he briefly lost consciousness in the attack.
The sergeant was severely injured and was treated for a concussion, facial lacerations, broken orbital bones, and numerous broken bones in the face -- the department said he will need additional visits with a facial surgeon in the coming weeks as part of their recovery.
The department stated that the attack could've ended much worse had it not been for the tow truck driver who help end the attack on the officers.
The elder Kassab was arraigned on Monday, Sept. 11 on the following charges:
• Assault/Resist Police Officer Causing Serious Impairment -Assault/Resist Police Officer Causing Injury
• Assault/Resist Police Officer
At the arraignment, the 55-year-old was given a bond at $600,000 Cash/Surety, but an emergency bond hearing held with Judge Shepherd on Wed. Sept, 13, saw his bond reduced to $100,000 Cash/Surety and Kassab was released from custody.
Kassab's 15-year-old son was lodged at the Youth Home and charged with:
• Assault/Resist Police Officer Causing Serious Impairment -Assault/Resist Police Officer Causing Injury
• Assault or Assault and Battery
• DNA – Refuse or Resist Providing Samples
The teen's bond was set at $500 Cash/Surety 10% or $50.00.
The 16-year-old juvenile was also lodged at the Youth Home and charged with:
• Assault/Resist Police Officer (3 counts)
His bond was similarly set at $500 Cash/Surety 10% or $50.00.
The department said they also apprehended a 55-year-old resident of Troy who was arrested at he scene and charged with disorderly conduct.
Additional charges are still pending against other individuals who were allegedly obstructed the department's investigation into the incident.
Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide expressed his disappointment that some of the offenders involved in the brutal attack are not in jail.
"Our officers are committed to protecting our citizens from these random acts of violence by doing their part to hold these offenders accountable," he said. "We now have two officers off the road due to injuries and three offenders still on the streets."
