A man who appears to be homeless has been charged with prowling, and resisting and obstructing police, after he threw a lawn mower at a Lake Orion Police Department officer during a chase on Aug. 11.
Jonathan Mark Pence, 23, who listed the address of the former Domino’s Pizza on Lapeer Road on his Michigan driver’s license, was arraigned in Oakland County Circuit Court on Aug. 12, and is currently being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond.
According to LOPD Chief Jerry Narsh, Pence was found sleeping in a hammock in the backyard of a N. Andrews resident, who called the police.
The incident occurred at 5:45 a.m. on Aug. 11. The resident heard dogs barking and went outside, to find Pence asleep in the hammock. Pence was asked to leave the area, and refused.
While the resident was on the phone with the police, Pence jumped a fence and hid in some bushes between the N. Andrews residence, and a residence on N. Broadway.
LOPD Officer Todd Stanfield responded to the scene, and discovered Pence hiding in the bushes. Pence was ordered to come out, and started crawling away from the bushes, then broke into a ‘dead run,? according to Narsh.
‘Officer Stanfield chased him through several private properties to a backyard on E. Jackson Street,? said Narsh. ‘Then (Pence) picked up a lawn mower, and threw it at Officer Stanfield.?
Stanfield was injured, but continued the pursuit. He eventually overcame Pence, and was able to subdue and handcuff him.
‘The tough guy that Officer Stanfield is, he shook it off and continued,? Narsh said. ‘He was treated for an injury to his arm, and released.?
Pence initially gave the police a different name, and the officers determined he is most likely homeless. Narsh said Pence had been sleeping in backyards in the area, and may have been involved in other crimes.
If he’s convicted of the felony charge of resisting and obstructing police, he could face up to four years in prison, or a $5,000 fine. The prowling charge is a 90-day misdemeanor.
‘I would have liked him to have been charged with assault with a weapon,? said Narsh. ‘Obviously, I’m upset when anyone tries to hurt one of my officers.
‘I’m pretty proud of the fact that (Stanfield) shook it off, and continued the pursuit,? he added.
Anyone who recognizes Pence or has more information about him is asked to contact the Lake Orion Police Department at 693-8321.