A 21-year-old Middlebury man has been convicted of attacking a Michigan State Police trooper.
Michael Barber was found guilty on six counts he was facing, according to WNDU:
- Assault by Strangulation
- Flee and Elude a Police officer
- Assault / Resist / Obstruct a Police Officer with Injury
- Attempt to Disarm a Police Officer of a Firearm
- Receiving and Concealing a stolen motorcycle
- Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm
The jury took four hours to deliberate the verdict. He avoids an Attempted Murder conviction as a result of the verdict. On the lesser Assault charge, he faces 15 years in prison on top of the five other counts.
Police say the Trooper was trying to pull Barber over when he crashed his motorcycle on U.S. 31 near Buchanan. A scuffle ensued as the Trooper was arresting Barber, and his brother, Travis Wise, allegedly pulled up and got involved.
Wise is still awaiting trial. His attorney has requested a mental health evaluation for his client.
It’s believed the pair could also be connected with a recent string of thefts: one in Mishawaka, the other at a gun store in Shipshewana.
