COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Coldwater man entered guilty pleas Monday in Branch County Circuit Court after he got into a fight with police August 13, 2018 and then tried to escape from custody.
A court spokesperson says 44-year-old Michael Christman admitted his guilt to charges of resisting, assaulting or obstruction a police officer, and escape from lawful custody.
In exchange for his pleas, prosecutors will dismiss two other charges of resisting police as well as a count of domestic violence. A sentencing enhancement for being a fourth time habitual offender was also dropped.
Christman is scheduled to be sentenced November 5, 2018.
He got into a confrontation with officers after they were called to the Courtyard Apartments on a report of a woman being assaulted.
Christman was handcuffed, but then he got into a scuffle with police. He was then placed in the back seat of a patrol car but somehow managed to get the back door open and flee on foot. He ran north from the scene about a quarter of a mile where he was taken back into custody in a field off Burns Park Drive.
Christman is a convicted felon who has a criminal record in Branch County dating back to 1994.
