Man accused of running over elderly couple found incompetent to stand trial

BRANCH COUNTY — A 23-year-old man accused of running over the grandparents of a girl he was allegedly stalking has been found incompetent to stand trial.

District Judge Brent Weigle made the ruling Friday on McCain Snyder after reviewing the report from the Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry. Snyder was arrested in June on a series of charges, including attempted murder.

According to the report, the judge ruled that Snyder may regain competence with treatment.

Doctors from the psychiatric center talked with Snyder by Zoom at the Branch County Jail, where he is held on an $11 million bond.

Prosecutor Zack Stempien told the court, "I would like to see how the treatment progresses."

His concern is that some doctors rule that defendants can’t participate in proceedings because defendants, “Don't want to discuss the case."

Snyder must wait in jail until the state can find a bed for him in a state hospital to begin treatment.

Stempien said if Snyder does not become competent to help in his defense within the statutory 15 months, the charges must be dismissed. "We can ask the court to file again once he obtains competency," he said.

The Coldwater man first faced the charge of attempted murder on June 10 after he allegedly ran down the grandparents.

Witnesses said Snyder drove from his home down the street and ran into David Sluyter, 81, and his wife, Jill, 77, causing severe injuries to both.

Snyder fled before Michigan State Police found him in his truck.

Prior story $1M bond set after man charged in hitting couple Monday night

The court arraigned Snyder on June 21 on charges of three counts of aggravated stalking, use of a computer in committing those crimes, and malicious use of a telecommunication device.

Coldwater Police may have thwarted an attempt to kill the 23-year-old Coldwater man the night before witnesses said he ran down the couple.

Snyder allegedly messaged death threats to the man, a high school friend, the night of June 9 from in front of the man's Grand Street home. The Coldwater Police sergeant sent Snyder on his way without any other action.

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Weigle set another hearing in 60 days to keep track of the treatment.

Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Man accused of running over elderly couple found incompetent to stand trial