Police officer, EMS responders attacked in Edwardsburg

EDWARDSBURG, Mich. - An Ontwa Township man faces four assault charges for attacking a police officer and two EMS first responders.

Edwardsburg police say just after 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning 24-year-old Matt Brown attempted to strangle one of their most experienced officers, 58-year-old Kevin English, while English was responding to a medical call.

Edwardsburg Police Officer Devin Lambart woke up Tuesday morning to a call he never expected. “You’re wife asks you what’s going on, you can’t say a whole lot just ‘I got to go,’” said Lambart.

One of Lambart’s best buddies on the force English, a 38-year police veteran, was in the hospital suffering from lashes to his face and bruises around his neck.

English told ABC 57 News he never expected an attack when he responded to a medical call at the home near the corner of Redfield and Elkhart Roads, just south of Edwardsburg.

“He had taken pills,” said Phil Troost, Brown’s grandfather. Troost said he called for help when he realized Brown was overdosing on prescription pills and was acting suicidal.

According to Police, when English knocked on the door Brown came out and asked English to shoot him. When English did not, the attack began.

“The guy had leaped off the steps at him (and) taken him over the fence,” said Lambart. “(English) had tried to hold him back just wasn’t able to.”

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz told the judge at Brown’s arraignment Wednesday, that Brown repeatedly told English he was going to kill him during the attack. Fitz said English nearly blacked out from the attempted strangulation.

Two EMS first responders jumped in to help subdue Brown and were injured themselves. The three were able to contain Brown until backup arrived.

“Those are the types of situations that can spiral out of control quickly,” said Lambart.

English told ABC 57 News that he’s recovering and should be back to work in a week or two.

Brown is being held at the Cass County Jail on a $100,000 bond and will be back in court on Aug. 7.  

Brown was charged with two felony assault charges and two misdemeanor assault charges. Fitz said he’s contemplating adding another, more serious, felony charge for assault with intent to murder.