COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Jackson man recently entered pleas of not guilty by reason of insanity to nine charges in Branch County Circuit Court after he was accused of being naked while trying to break into a home on June 27 in Sherwood and then leading police on a chase which ended with a violent confrontation on the west side of Coldwater.
47-year-old Frank Thomas Lemen entered the pleas on October 16 to charges of third degree fleeing and eluding, attempting to disarm a police officer, assaulting a police officer causing injury and third degree child abuse. He was also charged with three counts of of assaulting, resisting or obstructing police and two counts of indecent exposure. In addition, prosecutors filed Habitual Offender sentencing enhancers against Lemen.
According to on line court documents, Lemen was committed to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry and Evaluation in Saline for up to 60 days after the pleas were entered. After the examination, the probate court may order the defendant to be committed for an indefinite period of time.
The Branch County Sheriff’s Department says Lemen had his four-year-old daughter with him at the time of the incident which ended close to where reconstruction work was taking place on the bridge over the Coldwater River.
The suspect and Branch County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Butters had to be treated at ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital.
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