Man faces 10 criminal charges in hostage situation

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A 24-year-old man is in the Ingham County Jail facing 10 charges stemming from a Thursday, July 11 incident.

Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane announced he’d charged Tommie Johnson of Lansing with multiple crimes stemming from an incident in which he is accused of holding a woman and a baby hostage.

Here’s the charges filed against Johnson:

• Unlawful imprisonment – 2 counts
• Assault with intent to commit great bodily harm
• Domestic assault and battery
• Domestic assault and battery – pregnant victim
• Assault with a dangerous weapon (AKA Felonious assault)
• Poss. explosives with unlawful intent
• Arson, preparation to burn dwelling
• Child abuse, 2d degree
• Interfering or preventing a crime report

Dewane says Johnson will be in court for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 2 in Lansing’s 54-A District Court. He was arraigned on the charges July 13 by Judge Anthony Flores, court records show. He was given a $200,000 bond. The bond has not been posted, court records show

Police told 6 News last week officers responded around 6:45 Thursday night to the 1500 block of North Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., for “a troubled subject.”

After reaching the scene, officers learned the woman and infant were inside the house “being held against their will” with a man threatening to set the house on fire, LPD spokesperson Jordan Gulkis said Friday.

Threats of setting the house on fire continued leading to police asking Consumers Energy to shut off gas for the block as a safety precaution, Gulkis said.

As a result, more than 50 people on the block did not have gas for part of the night.

After police negotiators spoke to the suspect at length, around 1:30 a.m. he let the woman and infant leave the house, Gulkis said.

Police said neither victim was injured, and the Lansing Fire Department assessed both. Police were then able to arrest the 24-year-old Lansing man, Gulkis said.

Michigan State Police assisted Lansing officials on the scene Thursday evening.

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