Riot erupts at Michigan hospital

Riot erupts at Michigan hospital www.privateofficer.com

from the I-Net News Network
Pontiac MI July 2 2008

Assault charges are pending against a Pontiac man while investigators delve into the homicide of a local rapper that spurred a small riot at POH Regional Medical Center.
Pontiac police were forced to get assistance from the Michigan State Police and the Oakland County Sheriffs Office after more than 100 people started brawling with officers while attempting to see Kevin Kutta Harris Jr., who was shot and killed Sunday night on the citys north side.

Within minutes of Harris being taken to the hospital, a large crowd was trying to get a glimpse of him, Police Sgt. Kevin Braddock said.
Harris was shot once in the head while sitting in his car with his girlfriend near the corner of Stanley Avenue and Emiry Street.
According to police reports, two men walked up to the car about 10 p.m.
One man stood at the drivers side, while the other was on the passengers side and said: Give me all your money.
They didnt even give him a chance, said Braddock, adding that one of them shot Harris in the head immediately after demanding money.
The girlfriend told officers she got out of the car and began to run away.
She reported hearing a second shot while running away to call a friend.
It was the friend who got to the scene a few minutes later and drove Harris to the hospital.

Officers dispatched to the hospital after the shooting were greeted by the mob of people, who had perched themselves on the street and sidewalk outside the emergency room, as well as in the hallway and waiting room inside.
Tempers began to flare when police were asked by medical staff to get people who were not immediate family of Harris to leave the hospital.
Thats when a 32-year-old Pontiac man began to mouth off to a female officer attempting to clear the crowd with the assistance of hospital security, Braddock said.
The man continued to throw insults, use foul language and refused to leave after the officer threatened to arrest him.
He said (expletive) arrest me then, Braddock said.
The officer grabbed the man by the shirt and attempted to make the arrest, but then he turned and struck her on the right side of her head.
Braddock said the officer radioed for assistance, and began spraying the man in the chest with pepper spray.
The man, however, managed to get out of the officers grasp and run into the crowd.

There were so many people they were trying to get control of that he mixed into the crowd, Braddock said. As they were able to get most people outside, another officer located the one who assaulted the female officer.
A second attempt to arrest the man was made, but he managed to flip his body around and hit that officer on the head before breaking free and running off.
A short chase ensued, with the man being shot at with a pepper ball gun a few times, before finally being arrested.
Meanwhile, as other people began showing up at the hospital, police made attempts to get control of the situation, but were being pelted with rocks and bricks.
Their rioting forced officers to radio for assistance from the other law enforcement agencies to help disburse the crowd.
Following the riot, police have been attempting to piece together a possible motive for Harris slaying.
A number of people left messages on Harris MySpace page expressing their sadness regarding his death.
Many of the messages allude to his being from the citys north side.
One person wrote: Rest in peace Kutta, (north) side is going to hold it down for you.
Forensic specialists with the Oakland County Sheriffs Office have been unable to determine where exactly the shooting happened.
Making matters even harder is that police have only been given a brief description of the man who walked up to the drivers side door of the car.
He is said to be black, with a light brown complexion, 20 years old and had sideburns.