EAST LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Thousands, including a number of firefighters from Branch County and southwest Michigan, are expected to fill the Breslin Center in East Lansing today to say goodbye to a firefighter intentionally struck and killed during a “Fill the Boot” charity drive. The funeral for 35-year-old Dennis Rodeman comes one week after a 22-year-old with a history of mental illness struck the former marine with his pickup at Cedar Street and Jolly Road on Lansing’s south side.
Court documents say Grant Taylor became agitated because that September 9th Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser was holding up traffic. Police say he tossed an apple core at Rodeman before driving away, turning around and running him over.
Mourners have since donated over $125,000 to Rodeman’s wife, who is pregnant with the couple’s first child. Gov. Snyder has also ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff today to honor Rodeman’s memory.
