(WWJ) – Two men are facing charges after firing a series of gunshots in what was a bizarre incident in Northern Michigan earlier this month.
Donald Rommel of Interlochen and Christopher Lafayette of Burton are awaiting their next court date, stemming from the incident in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Nov. 21.
Michigan State Police were called to a home on Hulbert Road in Inland Township — about 20 miles southwest of Traverse City — around 5 a.m. that day after getting reports of multiple shots fired in the area.
As a trooper approached the home, he heard a rapid succession of gunshots and immediately backed away from the scene to a safe distance. He then made an announcement over a loudspeaker for the perpetrator to drop the weapon and come out with their hands up, according to MSP officials.
Nearly 15 minutes later, officials say two men emerged from behind a privacy fence and “displayed signs of aggression.”
The men — one of whom was wearing a “BDSM style face mask” — began yelling and swearing at the trooper as they walked toward him, officials said.
The trooper had requested additional officers to respond to the scene and two troopers had arrived and positioned themselves out of sight of the suspects.
The men continued to disobey the trooper’s orders and as they came closer, one of the troopers “performed a take-down maneuver on one of the men.” The other man immediately surrendered and complied.
While the men refused to identify themselves, they were eventually identified as Rommel, 40, and Lafayette, 35. Officials did not say which man was wearing the BDSM mask or which man was taken down by the trooper.
Rommel had a criminal bench warrant for failure to appear out of Benzie County. Both men were lodged in the Benzie County Jail.
When troopers searched the property, they found numerous spent 9mm shell casings around the front door of the home and in the entrance area. There were also bullet holes in a modular home next door that was used as an office. Troopers recovered an unregistered Glock 9mm handgun from inside the residence.
Authorities have not said why the men were firing shots. Further circumstances surrounding the incident have not been released.
Both men have been arraigned on one count each of reckless discharge of a firearm and resisting and obstructing police. Rommel was also charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of felon in possession of ammunition, and habitual offender notice.
Bond was set at $5,000 or 10% for Rommel, while Lafayette was given a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
Both men are due back in court on Dec. 14.