Police in Highland Park are angry after a suspect accused of assaulting an officer is set free

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (WXYZ) - There’s outrage in the ranks at the Highland Park Police Department over an attack on an officer. Rank-and-file officers who want to remain anonymous are angry over the release of a suspect accused of assaulting one of their own.

The alleged incident occurred at a nursing center Friday night on Glendale in Highland Park. Sources tell Action News officers responded to the care center after it was reported that a belligerent patient was causing trouble.

When the police arrived and confronted the patient we’re told the man detached a piece of his wheelchair and smashed one of the officers in the head. Doctors had to use staples to close the officer’s wound.

The wheelchair bound suspect was arrested – but he was released after treatment at the hospital. Officers tell Action News they’re furious because they believe no one should be released after an attack on a policeman.

The Chief tells Action News they simply didn’t have the resources to keep the man in custody – because they would have had to send a guard to the hospital. The Chief says the night of the assault all of his officers were handling a massive apartment building fire.