KENT COUNTY, Mich. — On Monday, 40-year-old Robert Daniel-Brent Joppe from Cedar Springs was arraigned at the 63rd District Court on several charges pertaining to the alleged assault on a Grand Rapids Township Fire Lieutenant.
Joppe appeared in court via Zoom from the hospital, where he is being treated for unrelated injuries, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Office.
Around 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, law enforcement were called to the Grand Rapids Township fire station on East Beltline, where deputies found Joppe assaulting the lieutenant.
According to KCSO, Joppe came to the fire station and was let inside by the lieutenant who believed Joppe had come to work on their concrete.
The lieutenant was alone at the station, as deputies believe Joppe was under the influence of an illegal drug.
"Once they realized the subject probably wasn't in the building to do any service work, there was a conversation that occurred," said Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir. "From that conversation, he was able to get some information. The subject was depressed and potentially suicidal, and that's why he reached out to law enforcement at first to get the assistance the subject needed, and then the situation just escalated out of hand real quickly after that."
Court documents show during their conversation, the lieutenant then asked Joppe if he was armed. Joppe then pulled a pistol from his waist and threw it between two fire trucks, which the lieutenant then retrieved and maintained control of.
Joppe then reportedly grew agitated and lunged towards the lieutenant, who then told deputies a "back-and-forth altercation" ensued, where he believed Joppe was trying to take back the firearm.
The two spun towards the open overhead door, as the lieutenant then threw the pistol outside into the grass.
Speaking with deputies, the lieutenant described Joppe then shoving his thumb into his right eye, telling them he felt as if his "eye was being pushed into his brain cavity."
The lieutenant also described Joppe biting his arm at the same time.
The two then fell onto the floor, where the lieutenant held Joppe until law enforcement arrived.
Joppe has now been charged for resisting and opposing an officer causing serious injury, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, carrying a concealed weapon and resisting and opposing an officer.
If convicted on all charges, Joppe could face up to 32 years in prison and $19,500 in fines. On Monday a judge set his bond at $50,000, and he is expected back in court in December.
The lieutenant has since been released from the hospital on Saturday evening, and is recovering at home according to Grand Rapids Township.
The township sent 13 ON YOUR SIDE the following statement:
"We are grateful for many things today, starting with the fast actions of the Fire Lieutenant, who followed his training and his instincts on Saturday evening to call for support. We are grateful for the fast response of the Kent County Sheriff's Department who responded quickly to the 911 call and restrained the intruder. We're grateful our Officer was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital Saturday evening, enabling him to be at home with his family while recovering. We are cooperating fully with the Sheriff's Department in its investigation which remains ongoing."