Sheriff: Suspect tried to disarm officers in drug raid
Methamphetamine and heroin were recovered in a narcotics raid at an Lake Orion-area motel this week.
However, the 29-year-old Pontiac man arrested has seen his criminal problems heightened after fighting investigating deputies for their guns, twice struggling to disarm a police officer.
For Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, who regul a rly shares the stories and writes to families of fallen officers around the country, the brief but dangerous struggle was a reminder of the death of a 28-year- old officer killed in Oak Park in 2008, days after Christmas.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies and officers from the Narcotics Enforcement Team were at the Red Roof Inn on Lapeer Road in Orion Township on Tuesday to execute a search warrant in an ongoing investigation.
The sheriff’s office said Reginald Todd Anderson answered the door and immediately grabbed the rifle of the first detective at the door.
“A second detective attempted to get the suspect down on the ground and when doing so, the suspect let go of the rifle and was able to take the second detective’s handgun from him,” the sheriff’s office said. “The suspect was then pinned to the floor and a third detective was able to get the handgun away from the suspect.”
Deputies and officers then subdued Anderson, handcuffing him.
Then during a subsequent search, investigators found the narcotics plus narcotic analgesics, packaging materials, and a digital scale.
“I am proud of this team of Detectives who were put into a high- stress situation and exercised incredible restraint,” Sheriff
Bouchard said in a statement. “It is a reminder that any situation or suspect can instantaneously become dangerous. Unarmed criminals can be just as lethal when they are able to disarm the police. It is not unusual to have an officer killed with their own weapon in a struggle.
“This happened to be the tragic outcome for Officer Mason Samborski of the Oak Park Police Department right here in Oakland County. We will ensure this violent criminal is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law for his actions.”
Anderson is jailed on a cash or surety bond of $100,000, with no option for a 10 percent bond.
He faces seven felonies, including delivery of methamphetamine, a potential 20-year felony, disarming a police officer, a potential 10-year felony, possession of heroin, two counts of possession of controlled substances, and two counts of resisting or assaulting a police officer.
He will return to court on Dec. 20 in the 52- 3rd District Court.