The suspect will be charged with carrying a concealed weapon and three separate counts of assault on an officer.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A Wyoming man arrested Sunday morning after shooting at police with an airsoft gun and crashing a moped is charged with assaulting police.
Grand Rapids District Judge David Buter read the six separate charges against Anthony Nguyen at the man’s arraignment hearing Tuesday, April 24. As Buter read the charges, each was relayed to Nguyen through an interpreter.
Nguyen, 43, was charged with fleeing police, malicious destruction of police property, carrying a concealed weapon and three separate counts of assault on an officer.
Man shot at 4 police officers with airsoft gun before crashing moped
Buter set Nguyen’s bond as $50,000 cash or surety, and a probable cause hearing is scheduled for May 3.
If he receives the maximum sentence on all charges, Nguyen could face up to 40 years in prison and fines of up to $14,500.
Shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday, April 22, Nguyen approached a Grand Rapids police officer sitting in a parked cruiser at Joe Taylor Park, 1038 Bemis St. SE, and pointed an airsoft gun at the officer, Grand Rapids Police Sgt. Cathy Williams said.
The officer immediately moved the vehicle to put distance between himself and the subject and ordered the man to lower his weapon, Grand Rapids Police Lt. Pat Merrill said in a previous interview.
As more police arrived, the man shot at four different officers before fleeing on foot through the park before driving off on a moped, Williams said.
The man eventually drove into traffic and crashed the moped into a car at the intersection of Wealthy Street and Fuller Avenue less than a half mile away from Joe Taylor Park, Williams said.
The suspect was taken to the hospital for minor cuts and scrapes, and the driver of the other car was not injured, Williams said.
Grand Rapids man arrested after firing BB gun at police officer
Based on the individual’s statements requesting officers shoot him, it is believed this was an “attempted suicide by cop,” she said.
Williams said it was not discovered until after the incident that the alleged weapon was an airsoft gun. No officers fired at the suspect and no officers were injured during the incident.
Some of the resources available to those contemplating suicide are:
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a confidential 24-hour crisis hotline available by calling 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). In an emergency, always call 911.
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services at 320 Commerce Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503,616-258-7599.
Network 180 at 790 Fuller Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503,616-336-3765.
