WYOMING, MICH. — The person who set up a bed of screws to protect a marijuana grow operation, seriously injuring a Wyoming police officer,
might face charges if prosecutors can find a criminal statute that applies.It’s harder than they thought. Existing law covering booby-traps addresses spring-loaded devices and explosives, but apparently not a bed of nails or screws on private property, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said.
“We are looking into it, but it’s not something that’s readily apparent,’’ Becker said.
And that has Wyoming Police Chief James Carmody calling for change.
“I think anytime you set a trap of any sort that can cause harm or injury, it should be prohibited,’’ Carmody said Tuesday. “We have warnings on mice traps, but this is something we don’t have a law on the book on? It kind of defies gravity as far as I’m concerned.’’
Wyoming officer Dustin Cook was investigating an early Sunday break-in at a medical marijuana grow site when he scaled a gate to reach a broken window. On the other side was a sheet of plywood with more than 100 three-inch, threaded decking screws pointing upward. Both of his feet were impaled.
“He had three of these things go into his feet,’’ Carmody said, holding a decking screw. “One in one heel and two in the other foot. One went through the center of his foot and did some damage to one of the tendons.’’
Events that led to Cook’s injuries unfolded about 1:30 a.m. Sunday when Wyoming officers responded to an alarm at a licensed medical marijuana grow operation on Clay Avenue north of 54th Street SW.
When officers arrived, they encountered two men inside the gray brick building. They entered by breaking a rear window, police said. Both were dressed in black with their faces covered. The pair fled; police gave chase.
The first to be caught was 19-year-old Tyquan K. Hassel of Kentwood. Police say he tossed a handgun during the pursuit.
Read more:
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/02/15/dustin-cook-marijuana-grow-officer/97937304/The bolded bit made this a candidate for the ridiculous news thread, but serious injury is rarely funny.
