Macomb Co. man charged with insanity against Harris-Walz volunteers charged with assault and hate crimes

St. Claire Shores — A 55-year-old man has been charged with multiple assaults and hate crimes after Macomb County prosecutors said he allegedly hurled homophobic insults before turning the car towards the volunteers Last month, we handed out literature for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Jason Lafond of St. Clair Shores was arraigned late Thursday afternoon in the 40th Judicial District Court in St. Clair Shores and was released on bail after pleading not guilty to three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and three counts of ethnic intimidation, Macomb County, U.S. Attorney Pete Lucido said Friday.

The latter violates Michigan’s hate crimes law, which includes sexual orientation.

Lucido said District Judge Mark Fratarcangeli ordered Lafond to wear a GPS strap and to refrain from contacting the alleged victims. He was also given a $50,000 personal bond.

“Three people were handing out campaign materials, so they each face three charges,” Lucido said of the Oct. 12 incident.

In Michigan, aggravated assault is punishable by up to four years in prison, and a hate crime is punishable by two years in prison.

Lafond’s attorney, Joseph Arnone, said he is still awaiting discovery in the case.

“We will continue the principle of the presumption of innocence,” he announced. “I will be interested in what the investigation finds.”

According to Lucido and witnesses who spoke to The Detroit News, Lafond allegedly drove to the parking lot of the VFW Bruce Post on Jefferson Avenue near Martin, where a tent praising Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had previously been set up.

When volunteers told Lafond they supported Harris-Walz’s campaign, he allegedly became furious and hurled anti-gay slurs at them. Lucido said Lafond allegedly got into his car, revved the engine and drove it toward the three victims before stopping a few feet away.

“The weapon he used was a car, therefore it is an assault charge,” the prosecutor said.

Melissa Crook, a resident of St. Clair Shores, who told The News she stood in the path of Lafond’s vehicle as it drove toward them, said she was happy the defendant was facing charges.

“I’m grateful that the process is working as it should and no one is playing politics with it,” she said.

Lucido said his office had no deputy investigators and made the decision to file charges based on a report provided by St. Louis police. Clair Shores, which did not return a call Friday.

“We have several former police officers who are investigating, but we don’t have deputy investigators like (Wayne County Prosecutor) Kym Worthy, so I can’t conduct my own investigation and we have to rely on what’s in the police report,” Lucido said. “Their report was based on witness statements and the suspect’s statements after speaking with police.”

Crook said she and her fellow volunteers did not record Lafond’s alleged crimes on their cell phones, and the VFW hall did not have a video camera on site.

An employee at Kaul Funeral Home across the street from where the incident allegedly occurred told The News that there are no surveillance cameras at the facility.

Lucido said St. Lucido Clair Shores received a description of Lafond’s Mercedes after volunteers called 911 to report the alleged incident. When city officers stopped Lafond the next day for a traffic violation, they asked about his involvement in the alleged hate crime and assault.

Asked if Lafond had pleaded guilty, Lucido replied: “I can’t get into that right now. My decision to press charges is based on the St. Paul’s Police report. Clair Shores, which included testimony from witnesses and the defendant. Other than that, let me just say that we will present our case when the time comes.

A probable cause hearing is scheduled for November 8.

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