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Dowagiac man first entry into county's mental health treatment program

Dowagiac Daily News (MI) - 1/26/2015

Jan. 26--A Dowagiac's man apparent attempt at "suicide by cop" has resulted in him becoming the first person admitted into the county's recently launched mental health court program.

Cass County Circuit Judge Michael Dodge sentenced 31-year-old John Smith, Jr. to two years of probation during his sentencing hearing in Cassopolis court Friday. He had pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of resisting police during an earlier appearance in court on Dec. 19.

Smith's arrest stems from an incident that occurred on Aug. 28 at his residence on Griffis Road. Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the home when an argument between Smith and his parents got out of control.

"When the police first arrived, you met them out in the middle of the road with a chain saw," Dodge said. "You were threatening to fire up, and did, and were threatening to use it against them."

During the confrontation, Smith told the police that he was suffering from the effects of detoxing from opiates, and wanted to be admitted to the hospital.

At one point, the man threw the weapon at the officers on the scene while resisting their orders to stand down. Eventually the police were forced to use a Taser to bring him under control.

The apparent motive for his hostilities toward law enforcement was to draw out a lethal response from them, said Smith's attorney, Robert Drake.

"His intention was to end his own emotional and psychiatric pain that's he experiencing by provoking police," Drake said. "It's to the credit of the police officers that didn't happen."

Smith has a history of both mental illness and substance abuse issues, which played a role in the events that occurred that day, the lawyer added.

With that fact in mind, the prosecutor's office agreed to cut a plea bargain with the defendant, allowing him to forgo incarceration. Instead, the Judge enrolled him in the county's Regional Mental Health Court program, which began operation in partnership with Berrien County back in October. Under the conditions of the program, Smith must complete a mental evaluation and treatment, or else he will return to court to face up to 18 months in prison.

"I think this is a good opportunity for you to address the disease you've been battling and to get the kind of medication and treatment you need to live a more normal life, and to avoid these kinds of situations," Dodge said.

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(c)2015 the Dowagiac Daily News, Mich.

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