NILES – The first of two brothers accused in the Feb. 20 attack on a Michigan State Police trooper on the U.S. 31 freeway was in court last week for a preliminary hearing.
Michigan State Police Trooper Garry Guild, the trooper attacked, testified last week that he was close to losing consciousness when two “Good Samaritans” came to his aid when he was being attacked during a traffic stop Feb. 20 on the U.S. 31 freeway.
Guild, a 21 year veteran of the state police, was the only person to testify during a preliminary hearing for Michael Scott Barber of Mishawaka, Ind. The hearing for Barber’s brother and co-defendant, Travis Tyler Wise of Middlebury, Ind., was adjourned for a week due to a change in attorney.
Berrien County Trial Judge Angela Pasula bound Barber over for trial on seven felony charges, stating that she found probable cause that Barber either committed the crimes or aided and abetted Wise. The next court dates for Barber are April 19 for a case conference, May 10 for a status conference and May 17 for the start of the trial.
Last week’s court proceedings also included the addition of more charges against both Barber and Wise. Both now face felony charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a 10 year felony, and assault with intent to murder which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Barber, 21, faces a total of seven counts including assault by strangulation, fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing police causing injury, taking a taser from an officer and possession of a stolen motorcycle. His bond was raised from $75,000 to $150,000 cash surety. He is on parole from a 2013 Van Buren County home invasion conviction.
Wise, 19, faces a total of six charges, with the other charges being assault by strangulation, resisting and obstructing police causing injury, taking a taser from an officer and obstruction of justice. His bond was raised from $100,000 to $150,000.
The Feb. 20 incident began around 8:45 a.m. when Guild observed Barber speeding southbound at 92 miles per hour on the highway on what turned out to be a motorcycle stolen in Van Buren County. Guild said he tried to get Barber to stop without success until Barber lost control near the exit ramp at Niles-Buchanan Road.
Guild said he was trying unsuccessfully to get handcuffs on Barber when another individual (Wise) attacked him from behind and choked him. “He did a double arm choke hold on me and jerked me back five to 10 feet,” Guild said. “I was fighting for air … I was being choked to the point that I felt like I was going to pass out.”
He said Barber then punched him twice in the face and he was only able to get control of Barber and handcuff him after the two citizens pulled Wise off him. Before Barber was handcuffed, Guild said Barber tried to get his taser and either he or Wise pulled at his gun.
“I went to use my taser and he deflected it so it hit my hand,” Guild said. “I disengaged the taser from my finger and palm and then pulled up his shirt and tased with a dry stun twice. I was able to get handcuffs on his right hand and eventually on his left hand.”
“I checked with the two Good Samaritans and they were still fighting with Wise, they said they had him. I secured Barber in the back of my car and went to assist in the arrest of Wise. Barber then got out of my car and ran, he was stopped by one of the citizens and another officer.”
Guild said he ended up with an acute neck injury from the assault and he was treated and released from Lakeland Hospital in Niles later that day.
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