Man on video camera driving lawn mower allegedly fleeing from deputy; shooting themselves by hand
Newly released body camera footage shows what authorities say was a Michigan man who was driving a chopper and refused to pull over for a deputy before he was pulled over and accidentally shot himself in the hand.
On Sept. 19, police responded to a home in Leoni Township to arrest a man who had multiple warrants, according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.
A deputy arrived at the home to arrest James Mitchell Kerr, 41, who was driving a lawn mower and allegedly refused to get off the machine.
Authorities said Kerr ran after the deputy before getting on board as the deputy chased him.
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James Kerr is said to have tried to escape his deputy by driving a lawnmower before he was run over and shot himself in the hand. (Jackson County Sheriff's Office)
The cutter eventually stopped in the ditch, but Kerr allegedly refused to comply with the deputy's orders even after the deputy threatened to assault him.
Police say Kerr continued to ignore the deputy's orders and returned to the mower, pulled a handgun hidden in the mower, and pointed it at the deputy.
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Police bodycam video shows James Kerr allegedly running away from the lawn mower. (Jackson County Sheriff's Office)
In response, the deputy fired his gun, striking Kerr, causing Kerr to shoot himself in the hand.
Ker was treated and released from a local hospital for the gunshot wound. The deputy was not injured.
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A Michigan man with a fugitive warrant was arrested by a deputy after he allegedly ran from a lawn mower and resisted arrest. (Jackson County Sheriff's Office)
“This incident underscores how quickly a seemingly mundane encounter can escalate and the potential dangers deputies face every day,” the County Sheriff's Office said. “We are thankful that the deputy was not injured, and the suspect was not seriously injured.”
Once cleared, Kerr was arrested and released on bail.
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Jackson County Sheriff Gary Schuette also asked the Michigan State Police to conduct an independent criminal investigation while the sheriff's office conducts an internal investigation. An internal investigation found no policy violations that occurred during the dispute.
Kerr was indicted in October and remanded in custody for trial in district court last week. He remains in the Jackson County Jail.
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