FLINT -- Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell says an accused murdered made a bold and antagonistic move in Judge Tracy Collier-Nix’s courtroom Friday.
He smiled.
The grin was too much for Alex Pace. His son, 22 year old Alex Pace Jr. died in December, allegedly after Juanell Darrough shot him more than a dozen times in the 100 Block of East Taylor Street.
The mourning father jumped over a railing and made an emotional effort to punch the smile off Darrough’s face. The move set off a massive melee as dozens jumped up and joined in or tried to break up the fight.
Pace ended up tasered and arrested at the preliminary examination of his son’s alleged killer. Deputies took one other person involved into custody.
"I understand the emotions of the father,” says Sheriff Pickell. “We still arrest him because of the disturbance caused."
Sheriff Pickell says the prosecutor’s office will decide on charges.
Meantime, he is taking action to prevent future problems. The sheriff says this isn’t the first incident at the courthouse. He says gangs have threatened several attacks and he needs more deputies to keep order. He plans to make up for staffing deficits by putting the jail on lock-down and moving deputies from the jail to the courthouse when necessary.
