GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker has filed felony charges against a 20-year-old man who police say pulled a box cutter on a Grand Rapids officer on December 16, before two officers shot him - once with a Taser and once with a gun.
It happened in an alley on Union Avenue north of Lyon Street. That, after the suspect allegedly locked himself inside a grocery store bathroom and later threatened people.
After reviewing a Michigan State Police report, Becker told WOOD Radio he filed one count of felonious assault and two counts of resisting and opposing a police officer against Nodin James Chervenka.
The felonious assault charge carries a maximum sentence of up to to four years and a $2,000 fine, upon conviction. The resisting charges have a maximum sentence of two years and a $2,000 fine.
"Based on the entirety of the investigation by the Michigan State Police - who did a very thorough job of getting bodycams (video), reports and statements - there was not a sufficient basis for filing charges against the officers," he said.
Police had responded to a report of a man inside the Martha's Vineyard grocery store threatening customers.
Chervenka was shot after he charged the officers, once with a Taser and another time with a gunshot to the arm.
"We did decide to file a felonious-assault charge, and two counts of resisting and opposing an officer against the defendant. We'll let the court process takes its normal course over the next two months," Becker said.
He added that there was no evidence to suggest the police did anything wrong.
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