A 33-year-old Oxford man is facing criminal charges for allegedly waving a large knife at firefighters and resisting Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies, which led to him being Tasered on Easter.
Michael Scott Pritchard was arraigned Tuesday in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court on charges of resisting/obstructing a police officer (a two-year felony), resisting/obstructing a firefighter (a two-year felony) and carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent (a five-year felony).
He’s currently lodged in the county jail in lieu of 10 percent of a $10,000 cash/surety bond.
It all began when deputies responded to the 90 block of Manor Rd. after receiving a report that Pritchard was intoxicated and falling in and out of consciousness.
However, just prior to deputies? arrival, authorities said Pritchard fled the scene on foot. He was later spotted by firefighters near the entrance to the Lake Villa Manufactured Home Community on Lakeville Rd.
Pritchard came out from behind some trees and approached firefighters. He was allegedly waving a large tactical knife in a threatening manner.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies arrived as Pritchard got within 10 feet of the firefighters at which time he dropped the knife. When Pritchard was taken into the ambulance for evaluation, he allegedly began to fight with deputies.
A deputy used a Taser to subdue him.
While en route to the county jail in Pontiac, Pritchard began to struggle in the backseat of the patrol car and attempted to get his handcuffed hands in front of him, according to the sheriff’s office.
No firefighters or deputies were injured during this incident.