Man shot by police to stand trial on four counts

ST. JOHNS – New criminal charges are possible against a DeWitt Township man who was shot by police after a high-speed chase in May, authorities said Thursday.

The Shiawassee County Sheriff’s Office, which investigated the May 26 incident at the request of Clinton County Sheriff Wayne Kangas, forwarded its findings to the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office about a week ago, said Brian Ameche, an assistant county prosecutor.

The investigation could result in other charges being brought against Kevin Shannon, 24, who was ordered to stand trial Thursday on a fleeing-and-eluding charge and three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, Ameche said.

A decision on possible charges should come in a week or so, he said.

Shannon, who appeared in court Thursday with a bandage wrapped around his head and jaw, waived his right to a preliminary examination on the four counts against him. A preliminary exam determines whether there is enough evidence for a defendant to stand trial.

The chase stemmed from a domestic incident at Shannon’s residence in a mobile home park on State Road in DeWitt Township. Officers saw the suspect driving away as they arrived. He refused to stop and led them on a chase through Clinton County that ended when he crashed his minivan into a fence along northbound U.S. 127, north of M-21, police said.

Shannon climbed out of the vehicle holding a knife and made his way down to a pond, police said.

Officers tried to subdue him using non-lethal means but shot him with their service weapons after he fought with them and threatened them with a knife, Kangas and DeWitt Township police Chief Brian Russell have said. One sheriff’s deputy and one township officer fired their weapons, they said.

During the confrontation, Shannon pleaded with officers to kill him and said he wanted to die, Kangas said.

Shannon was taken to Sparrow Hospital with two gunshot wounds and at least one self-inflicted knife wound, police said. He was arraigned in the hospital on June 3.

The sexual assault allegations involve a minor, authorities said. Officers learned of them when they responded to the domestic call.

Kangas said he asked the Shiawassee County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the confrontation between Shannon and police because it had no involvement in the chase or the shooting.