INLAND TWP. (WWJ) -- Two man are facing charges after a confrontation with Michigan State Police troopers in Northern Michigan.
The investigation began at around 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, when a call came into the MSP Traverse City Post about multiple shots fired near a home on Hulbert Road in Inland Township, west of Interlochen.
As the responding trooper approached the residence, he heard a rapid succession of gunshots and immediately backed away to a safe distance, and called for backup.
An announcement was then made from the PA system for the perpetrator to drop the weapon and come out with their hands up, police said.
About 13 minutes later, MSP said two men came out from behind a privacy fence — one of them wearing a "BDSM style-face mask."
They a "displayed signs of aggression," according to police, yelling and swearing at the trooper as they walked toward him.
Meanwhile, two more troopers had arrived and positioned themselves out of sight of the suspects.
When MSP said the two men continued to disobey the trooper's orders, and as they came closer, one the troopers performed a take-down maneuver on one of the men.
The other man immediately surrendered and complied, and both were arrested and booked in the Benzie County Jail.
No injuries were reported.
After refusing to provide their names, the suspects were eventually identified as 40-year-old Donald Kenneth Rommel of Interlochen, who had a criminal bench warrant, and 35-year-old Christopher Davis Lafayette of Burton.
The troopers got a search warrant for the property and 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 to the residence that was used as an office, police said.
Troopers also recovered an unregistered Glock 9mm handgun from inside the home, according to MSP.
Rommel was arraigned in the 85th District Court on one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, one count Felon in Possession Ammunition, one count Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, one count Resisting and Obstructing Police, and Habitual Offender Notice. His bond was set at $5,000/10%.
Lafayette was arraigned in the 85th District Court on one count of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, and one count Resisting and Obstructing Police, and was given a $5,000 personal bond.
Both men are next scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 14.
