DETROIT (WWJ) - Troopers petitioned for mental health care on Tuesday night after the man they found wandering in the middle of M-10 fought state police and bashed a patrol car window in with his head.
Michigan State Police said they became aware of a pedestrian walking in the middle of the Lodge freeway after several callers reported seeing a man on the road.
When troopers arrived on scene shortly after 6:30 p.m., they found the man off to the right in the southbound lanes and making obscene gestures towards traffic.
Troopers asked the man to move off the side of the highway, but the man disregarded the request. Troopers said the man was agitated and very upset.
The man continued to disobey commands from state police, prompting additional troopers to arrive on scene with assistance from the Detroit Police Department.
MSP said troopers then tried to grab the man and physically remove him from the freeway, but the man slapped away the trooper's hand; the man was placed in handcuffs after troopers said he would be tased if he kept refusing to comply.
As troopers went to place the pedestrian in the car, the man became combative and resisted getting inside; MSP said the man then began to fight troopers until he was finally secured inside the vehicle.
The man was taken to the Detroit detachment were his brother arrived to speak with state police. The man's mother also spoke to troopers over the phone where they learned the man had a history of mental health problems and was being assessed for current issues.
While troopers were speaking to his brother, the man began smashing his head against the front passenger window of the patrol car. He repeatedly bashed his head against the glass until it broke, MSP said.
The man was transported to a local hospital and petitioned for mental health care. Troopers discovered the man was petitioned six months ago by authorities after he had threatened to jump on to the freeway.
MSP said the man was not injured and troopers were noted to have minor injures due to the physical altercation with the pedestrian.
