NEWS

Firefighter: Scene of Rodeman crash a 'surreal sight'

Matt Mencarini
Lansing State Journal

LANSING - Lansing firefighter Bruce Wheeler jumped out of the way of a speeding pickup truck, looking into the eyes of the driver, just before it struck and killed his friend and fellow firefighter Dennis Rodeman.

Grant Taylor talks with his attorney Stacia Buchanan after a preliminary hearing Thursday, December 3, 2015 in Lansing, Mich. Taylor is charged in the September death of Rodeman, who was killed when he was hit by a truck while collecting donations for the Fill the Boot campaign.

It was that close encounter, which Wheeler described in testimony Thursday, that led prosecutors to add another charge against 23-year-old Grant Taylor — assault with intent to murder.

Wheeler was one of four witnesses who testified Thursday during a preliminary hearing in 54A District Court. The hearing ended with Judge Hugh Clarke Jr. ruling there was enough evidence for Taylor to stand trial.

It was preceded by a competency hearing in which the prosecution and Stacia Buchanan, Taylor's court-appointed attorney, stipulated to a forensic report that said Taylor understood the court proceedings and can assist in his own defense, meaning he is competent to stand trial.

Taylor, who has a history of mental illness, faces up to life in prison if convicted. He was charged in September with murder and other charges.

Wheeler and Rodeman, 35, were two of the six firefighters collecting donations for charity near the intersection of Cedar Street and Jolly Road Sept. 9, when police say Taylor intentionally struck Rodeman with his pickup truck, according to testimony and court records.

Rodeman later died at a local hospital.

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Testimony: Taylor was 'very agitated'

Rodeman and Taylor spoke at the driver's side window of Taylor's pickup truck before Taylor became "very agitated" and Rodeman walked away, smiled and waved, Jeffrey Town testified Thursday. Town was in the vehicle directly behind Taylor as they were stopped at a red light on Cedar Street at Jolly Road, he testified.

The light turned green and Taylor drove away "aggressively" and around another car, he added.

Town and Taylor both drove south on Cedar Street for about a mile, stopping at least once more at a red light. When that light turned green, Taylor again "aggressively" drove away, later turning left into the entrance of the Meijer at East Miller Road and spinning around — like he was doing a "doughnut" — and going back north on Cedar Street, Town testified.

Shortly after that, Taylor made his way back to the intersection of Cedar Street and Jolly Road, where he tried to hit Wheeler with his truck, according to testimony.

"I jumped to my left to get out of his way," Wheeler testified.

He added that he made eye contact with Taylor and the expression on his face was "kind of a smirk, a smug look."

On cross examination by Buchanan, Wheeler admitted that he initially told police he thought the driver tried to scare him and could have hit him if he wanted to. But Thursday Wheeler testified that he thought if he didn't get out of the way he would have been struck.

Prosecutor John Dewane shows Lansing Police Detective Peter Scaccia questions Thursday in Lansing during a preliminary hearing for Grant Taylor. He is charged in the September death of firefighter Dennis Rodeman, who was killed when he was hit by a truck while collecting donations for the Fill the Boot campaign. Scaccia, who at the time of the incident was a road patrol police officer, was briefly involved in a chase with Taylor and also investigated the crash scene.

That lined up with what Ray Wilkinson, who was also driving behind Taylor, testified he saw.

"I think if he wouldn't have seen the guy, yeah, he would have (been struck by the truck)," he testified.

Taylor was driving about 30 mph when Wheeler jumped out of the way, Wheeler testified. A few moments later he saw Rodeman on the ground. He rushed over and saw "lots of blood" coming out of Rodeman's mouth, he testified. Wheeler, who is also a paramedic, turned Rodeman's head to the side to let the blood out.

Rodeman had a pulse, Wheeler testified, but wasn't breathing. He described the scene as a "surreal sight."

Wheeler didn't see Taylor hit Rodeman with his truck, but Wilkinson did. He saw a boot and paper "literature" fly into the air and Rodeman's body roll off to the side, he testified.

After seeing the incident, Wilkinson drove after the truck to make sure someone got the license plate number.

The truck was driving "quite erratically," Wilkinson testified, and eventually drove through a parking lot.

Lansing police Det. Peter Scaccia saw Taylor cut through that lot when he was on his way to the crash scene and began a pursuit, which ended up on Washington Avenue with Taylor driving recklessly and using the center turn lane to pass other vehicles, he testified.

The lot was for the former Lansing Police Department South Precinct building at Cedar Street and Holmes Road, according to testimony.

The pursuit reached at least 70 mph, Scaccia testified, and Taylor drove through one red light. Scaccia later ended the pursuit as they neared another red light, not wanting Taylor to drive through another, he testified.

Taylor was later arrested in the 3000 block of Lawdor Road, police said. It's the same block where his parents live, according to court records.

State evaluations may play part in trial

Rodeman survived a tour of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps and was a seven-year veteran of the Lansing Fire Department.

His funeral was held at Michigan State University and drew thousands of people and firefighters from around the country. There was an outpouring of support for the Rodeman family, which included more than $150,000 in donations raised in the days after his death.

In addition to murder, Taylor is charged with assault with intent to murder, failing to stop at the scene of an accident when at fault causing death and third-degree fleeing and eluding. The assault with intent to murder charge was added Thursday and a second charge of third-degree fleeing and eluding was dismissed.

In 2013 and again in 2014, Taylor's mother petitioned courts to have her son involuntarily hospitalized. He was diagnosed with psychosis and bipolar disorder, among other mental illnesses, and spent a combined 18 days in mental health facilities, according to court records.

Family members of Dennis Rodeman get emotional listening to testimony Thursday during a preliminary hearing for Grant Taylor in Lansing, Mich. Taylor is charged in the September death of firefighter Dennis Rodeman, who was killed when he was hit by a truck while collecting donations for the Fill the Boot campaign.

Taylor was evaluated for competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility after he was arraigned in September.

The criminal responsibility evaluation, which could come into play for Taylor during later court proceedings, determines if a defendant is legally insane, which means they lack the capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of their conduct or to conform their conduct to the requirements of the law. Mentally ill doesn’t automatically mean legally insane for the purpose of a criminal proceeding.

During the preliminary hearing Thursday, Buchanan questioned witnesses about where in the street firefighters were collecting donations and how they got out of traffic once the traffic lights changed. Rodeman was in a left turn lane after he was struck and Wheeler wasn't yet at the curb when he was almost struck, according to testimony.

However, firefighters wore reflective vests and signs were posted along the road to warn drivers about the fundraising, according to testimony.

The case now moves to Circuit Court. No trial date has been set.

Contact Matt Mencarini at (517) 267-1347 or mmencarini@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMencarini.

What's next

The case against Grant Taylor in the death of Lansing firefighter Dennis Rodeman, which includes a murder charge, moves to Ingham County Circuit Court for either a trial or other disposition.