A Jackson Co. man accused of pointing a gun at a deputy will stand trial

A Jackson County man accused of pointing a gun at a sheriff’s deputy after fleeing on a lawn mower has been ordered to appear in court, officials said.

James Mitchell Kerr III, 41, of Leony Township, was charged last month with assault with intent to murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and resisting a police officer, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.

A district court judge bound Kerr over for arraignment in Jackson County Circuit Court last Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said.

If convicted, he faces up to life in prison on the assault charge, up to two years on the firearm charge and up to two years on the resisting officer charge.

Kerr’s attorney could not be reached for comment Monday.

Authorities said the charges against him stem from an incident on September 19.

A sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to Kerr’s home in Leon Township to arrest him for a probation violation and two misdemeanor warrants, police said. According to court records, Kerr has been charged with multiple crimes in the past, including drug possession and receiving stolen property.

A deputy arrived at the home to find Kerr sitting on a lawn mower, officials said. He ordered Kerr to get out of the car, but defendant refused to comply.

Investigators said Kerr instead hit the mower’s accelerator to run from the deputy. The officer ran after him until Kerr drove the mower into a small ditch.

Officials said the deputy pulled out his electric Taser and warned Kerr that he would use the device if he did not comply with his commands.

However, Kerr allegedly ignored the deputy’s orders, got out of the car and walked away, police said. The suspect then allegedly returned to the lawn mower, retrieved a handgun hidden inside it and then pointed it at the deputy, they said.

Detectives said the deputy used a Taser, hitting Kerr.

Authorities said the electric shock caused Kerr to discharge the gun and shoot himself in the arm.

Additional deputies arrived and arrested Kerr before he was taken to the hospital, officials said. After treatment, Kerr was released to the county jail.

Due to the circumstances of the incident, the sheriff’s office asked the Michigan State Police to investigate the shooting. The sheriff’s office also conducted an internal investigation.

Officials said an internal investigation found no policy violations.

The incident is the latest example of suspects attacking metro Detroit police officers during an arrest.

Last month, a man from Highland Park allegedly fired a pistol at a Center Line police officer and intentionally hit a police car as he fled the scene of a home invasion.

A few weeks before, three people were detained struggle with Livingston County Sheriff’s deputies at the grand opening of Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken in Hartland.

In September, a Farmington Hills man barricaded himself in his home opened fire on the police.

AND a parolee shot a Melvindale police officer Mohamed Said in July during a fight outside a car wash.

A month earlier, an Oakland County sheriff’s deputy Bradley Reckling was fatally wounded while chasing a stolen car in Detroit. Three 18-year-olds were charged in October with his death.

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@CharlesERamirez