By Bradley Massman
mlive.com
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – On a weekend afternoon, an armed man wandered into a fire station allegedly under the influence of illicit drugs.
He started to make suicidal statements. A Grand Rapids Township fire lieutenant, working alone in the station, called 911 for help.
While police were en route, a physical fight ensued between the man and lieutenant. At one point, the 40-year-old man – Robert Daniel-Brent Joppe – pressed his thumb into the lieutenant’s eye.
The injured lieutenant was able to hold Joppe down until Kent County sheriff’s deputies arrived and took him into custody.
Joppe, of Cedar Springs ,was arraigned this week on four felony charges in Kent County’s 63rd District Court.
The alleged attack unraveled around 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Grand Rapids Township Fire Department at 1836 E. Beltline Avenue.
Joppe wandered into the station and made suicidal statements, a Kent County sheriff’s deputy wrote in an affidavit. A fire lieutenant working called 911 requesting help. He’d later call back asking for an emergency response by the police.
The lieutenant asked Joppe if he was armed. Joppe allegedly removed a pistol from his waist and threw it between two fire trucks, the affidavit states. The lieutenant was able to recover the firearm and tossed it out of the building.
A physical fight ensued.
Police say Joppe then started to push his thumb into the lieutenant’s right eye as hard as he could. The lieutenant said it was “painful and felt like his eye was being pushed into his brain cavity.”
During the attack, the lieutenant was conscious, but he said his right eye was injured so badly he began to see stars, the affidavit states. At one point, Joppe allegedly started biting the lieutenant’s arm.
The fire lieutenant and Joppe eventually fell onto the floor and the lieutenant held Joppe down until police arrived, the affidavit reads.
Joppe was arraigned Monday, Nov. 25, in district court. He’s charged with resisting and opposing an officer causing serious injury, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, carrying a concealed weapon, and resisting and opposing a police officer.
Joppe is scheduled to appear in court next on Dec. 4 for a probable cause hearing.
If you or someone you know is seeking support for mental health issues, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-8255. A free, 24/7 and confidential crisis text line with trained listeners is also available by texting HELLO to 741741.
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