A man who seriously injured an Allegan County deputy who was trying to arrest him will spend years in prison.
Christopher Gerou, 37, of Dorr, was sentenced last Tuesday to 19 to 40 years in prison, with credit for some 400 days served. More than a dozen law enforcement officers were present at the courthouse to show support for Deputy Dillon Kibby, who was injured.
Gerou pleaded no contest to assaulting a police officer causing serious impairment; assaulting, resisting and obstructing a police officer; and operating while intoxicated. In exchange, three other charges were dismissed, including assault with intent to murder.
The assault happened Sept. 11, 2023. Authorities said Kibby responded to a neighborhood in Dorr Township on a report that someone was driving back and forth at a high rate of speed without headlights. Kibby found Gerou, then 35, outside his home and called for backup, noting that Gerou was agitated and likely drunk, according to authorities. A Michigan State Police trooper arrived.
A probable cause affidavit says that Gerou admitted to driving to the end of his driveway to get his mail. According to the affidavit, the deputy gave him a roadside sobriety test, but Gerou refused to take a portable breath test, instead saying, “You can (expletive) off and die.” That’s when Kibby told Gerou he was under arrest, and Gerou started walking away, the document says.
“(The deputy) attempted to grab Gerou’s wrist at which point Gerou abruptly turned around and struck (the deputy) with his right arm in the head/neck, rendering him unconscious as he fell to the driveway,” the document says.
Gerou was taken into custody by the trooper, according to the document.
“While Gerou was laying on the ground at taser-point he stated, ‘I hope he’s dead’ referring to (the deputy) who was still laying unconscious on the driveway and was later found to be bleeding from the back of his head,” the affidavit says.
Saturday, December 21, 2024
