ARMADA (WWJ) - Two police officers in northern Macomb County were injured Wednesday night after getting into a physical fight with a man being served mental health commitment papers.
As reported by the Macomb Daily, a pair of Armada police officers got into the altercation at two story home on Fulton Street around 5 p.m. on Nov. 9.
Township Police Chief Richard Maierle said the officers were serving commitment papers to the suspect, identified as a man in his 30s, on the second floor of the home when things went sideways.
“When our officer arrived, the female homeowner said the guy was non-combative to police,” the chief said. “But as soon as he sees our officer, he went right after him, picked him up and threw him over the stair railing.”
One of the officers immediately notified dispatch for back up, stating, “we need help, we need help," over the radio, the Macomb Daily reported.
Macomb County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police both responded to the scene and were able to subdue the suspect with a taser before arresting him.
It was reported that the officer who was thrown down the stairs sustained multiple broken bones in the incident while the other was "banged up." Both officers were taken to McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mount Clemens for treatment.
The chief told the Macomb Daily that the second officer wasn't in uniform when they went to serve the papers, which seemed to calm the suspect before they deployed the taser.
Police added that they were familiar with the suspect, having been called out to the home several times in the past, but the reason for the mental commitment order wasn't immediately clear.
The suspect was also checked out at the hospital before being taken to the Macomb County Jail.
He is expected to be charged by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday.