Utica man charged with pointing gun at car in 80 mph chase ordered to trial
A man accused of chasing three women in a car — one of them his ex-girlfriend — and pointing a gun at the vehicle in Ferndale faces trial for felony assault.
Terrell Tomer, 21, of Utica was ordered to trial in Oakland County Circuit Court following a hearing where he and other witnesses testified in Ferndale 43rd District Court on Monday.
Tomer denied he brandished a Glock
9 mm during the Feb. 8 chase along Woodward at speeds of up to 80 mph.
Police said he also drove in front of the other vehicle a couple of times and hit his brakes.
The driver of the other vehicle, Carolyn Ballard, testified the chase scared her.
“He was trying to harm me,” Ballard said. “We were afraid of being shot and crashing.”
Tomer’s ex-girlfriend, Sharon Chaar, testified she didn’t see him brandish a gun and was calling him on her phone so she could get in his car.
“I don’t want to see my boyfriend get in trouble,” Chaar said,
She refused to complete a witness statement after
Ferndale police stopped Tomer’s and Ballard’s vehicles on Woodward.
One of the women in the car called 911 about 2:45 a.m. before police stopped the vehicles, police said.
A Ferndale office testified that Tomer chased the other vehicle through three red lights.
Police said when they talked to the suspect at the police station he told them he never pointed a gun at the other vehicle and told them his ex-girlfriend had some property of his he wanted to get back.
He has no criminal history and has a valid concealed pistol license, but it did not cover the Glock 9mm, which he recently purchased, according to court testimony.
Tomer is free on personal bond.
The charge against him for felony assault is punishable by up to four years in prison, and he also faces a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended license.
After hearing testimony, Ferndale 43rd District Judge Joseph Longo ordered to stand trial on the charges in Oakland County Circuit Court.
Tomer is scheduled to be arraigned for trial before Circuit Judge Martha Anderson at 8:30 a.m. March 18.
Firefighters, friends and relatives are donating to a GoFundMe fundraiser for the daughter of the late Madison Heights Fire Capt. Jeffrey Brozich.
Brozich’s fellow firefighters found him dead of a heart attack inside the fire hall March 1 as they got ready to respond to a 911 call.
The GoFundMe page was set up for Brozich’s daughter, Brianna, 16, by her uncle, Madison Heights police Sgt. Craig White.
“Brianna’s dad would want her to be taken care of,” White wrote on the GoFundMe page, adding that she is an exceptional student who wants to go to college and become a nurse practitioner.
“While Brianna’s mother continues to fight cancer, I am going to handle all of Brianna’s financial affairs,” White said in his posting.
The Macomb Township man’s death at age 57 was unexpected.
“Her family is not financially prepared to provide Brianna with all the necessities she will encounter throughout the next several years,” White said. “We relied on Jeff (Brozich), his guidance and support to help get Brianna the direction and support she will need in preparation for her life ahead.”
The fundraiser was started a few days ago and seeks to raise $25,000.
Brozich was a 20-year veteran of the Madison Heights Fire Department.
His death led Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to order all U.S. and Michigan flags at state facilities to be lowered at half-staff last Friday in honor of the fallen firefighter.
“Firefighters put their lives on the line each and every shift, and the entire state is grateful for Jeffrey’s dedication and service,” Whitmer said in a statement.
Madison Heights Fire Marshal Paul Biliti, a close friend of Brozich, said there has been broad support for the late firefighter and the fundraising effort.
“The number of people who have reached out has been overwhelming,” Biliti said Wednesday.
More than 500 firefighters from across the state showed up at the funeral last Friday for Brozich at Grace Christian Church in Sterling Heights.
“We had to turn away 250 police officers and firefighters at the church because of COVID-19 restrictions,” Biliti said.
Donations can be made at the Fallen Fighters Daughter Fundraiser on GoFundMe.