DPD Chief Craig frustrated with low bond, light charges for man who shot at police

DETROIT (WJBK) - Detroit Police Chief James Craig is frustrated with the light charges and low bond set for a 19-year-old who shot at an officer last week.

FOX 2 spoke with Craig on Monday, who was unhappy the man was only arraigned on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and felony firearm, and that his bond was set at $30,000.

"You shoot at a police officer and we file a charge of felon with a gun? Felon with a weapon. That's it," Craig said.

The incident took place last Tuesday on Canfield on Detroit's east side. Police said an officer approached Lee and another man. Lee began running, pulled out a gun and shot at the officer.

"This year to date, we've seen across this country almost a 300 percent increase in officers killed by gunfire," Craig said.

The officer, who was uninjured in the attack, shot back. Lee got away, but was caught and charged two days later. The charges he received, Craig said, are too light.

"The outcome is a bill equivalent to someone committing a misdemeanor. I find that problematic," hes said.

Craig said he isn't blaming the magistrate or the prosecutor’s office, but asking the question: What went wrong here?

"Did we provide the prosecutor's office with the kind of investigation necessary to get the kind of charges against someone who tries to kill a cop? And if that's an issue, then that's my shop and I'll take full responsibility for that," he said.

Craig also said there's usually a prosecutor and the officers involved inside the courtroom to tell the judge in detail what happened. However, in the case of the incident with Lee, that was not the case.

He said this was "troubling," and added that with 16 officers shot and killed this year, Craig said he will be looking into what happened in Lee's case.

"What message does this send our men and women who run to danger? Who put themselves in harm's way each and every day? What message are we sending them? What do we tell their families? What do we tell the police chief? I'm going to support those men and women. I'm going to fight for them. This is not acceptable."