A Michigan Man Gets Shot Trying To Run Over A Deputy Arresting His Son

Charlevoix County, MI -- A Charlevoix County man accused of attempting to run over an officer arresting his son will stand trial in Cheboygan County due to a conflict of interest.

Steven Martin, 63, faces a pair of felony charges for attempted murder and resisting and obstructing an officer stemming from an October officer-involved shooting.

He is due in court June 23 for a hearing to discuss deadlines for witness, exhibit lists, and motions, and to set jury selection and trial dates, according to Cheboygan Assistant Prosecutor Melissa Goodrich.

If convicted, Martin faces up to life in prison.

The incident occurred after 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, when Charlevoix County Sheriff's Deputy Nathan Kaminski initiated a traffic stop after witnessing Jared Martin, Steven's son, driving on See Road in Hayes Township with a flat tire.

An open bottle of blackberry brandy was found on the dashboard of Martin's vehicle and was confiscated by Kaminski, according to a police report obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Shortly after, Martin's father, Steven Martin, arrived at the scene of the traffic stop.

Kaminski made contact with the elder Martin, who received a call from his son during the stop.

The officer asked him to return to his 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck, which he had parked across the street.

During the stop, officers put Jaren Martin through field sobriety tests.

A breathalyzer test determined Martin had a blood alcohol content of 0.17 percent, according to the report.

Deputy Genna Gauthier arrived to assist Kaminski, but attempts to arrest the man were unsuccessful as Martin repeatedly told the officers he had to urinate.

The officers used a stun gun twice, but Martin continued to resist, the officers reported.

As the situation escalated, Steven Martin shifted his truck into drive and pulled toward the officers and his son.

At that time, Kaminski pulled his gun and fired five shots into the side of the truck, striking the driver in both arms.

"Shots fired," Kaminski can be heard shouting to dispatch. "He tried to run me over."

Additional officers responded to the call. In their reports, multiple officers indicated they arrived to find Kaminski rendering first aid to Steven Martin.

Martin was taken to McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, where he went into surgery to have the bullets and bullet fragments removed.

The next day, Martin was interviewed by Michigan State Police troopers. During that meeting, he explained his son had a drinking problem and that things happened quickly during the incident, according to a report by Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Stephen Porter.

"Martin said he was turning toward the left/center of the road as he did this," the report states. "Martin said this caused his vehicle to be at a 45 degree angle to the roadway and that he did this so that another vehicle wouldn't come along and run over his son."

Martin also referred to previous encounters with police, including a physical altercation with an officer after his son was arrested for a snowmobile violation, the report states.

"Martin said he was arrested for assaulting a police officer after inadvertently hitting the officer and feels that this incident may have spilled over with the other officers," the report states.

An interview of Jared Martin was conducted at the Charlevoix County Jail by Detective Sgt. David Hart.

During that conversation, Martin said he was angry when the officer initially approached him, and said he thought he performed the sobriety tests "pretty damn good."

"I was probably getting a little more feisty than I should have been," he told Hart, according to the police report.

Jared Martin later pleaded guilty to charges of operating while intoxicated and resisting arrest. He was sentenced in February to six months in jail.