Man accused of owning Taser, threatening deputies deemed competent to stand trial
A Washtenaw County Trial Court judge ruled Thursday a man charged with possessing a Taser who had previously threatened county sheriff’s deputies is competent to stand trial.
Madison Mealing
Photo courtesy of Michigan Sex Offender Registry
Madison Mealing, of Superior Township, is charged with one count of possessing a Taser, stemming from a raid on two of his residences in November 2010. Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge David Swartz reviewed a doctor’s report from an appointment in late December and ruled Mealing was competent to stand trial.
Police said Mealing had made a number of YouTube videos praising violence against police officers, including one titled, “5 Detroit police officers shot this morning, 1 dies. Next killing spot? Washtenaw County P.D.” That video was posted in May 2010 and was one of many Mealing made under the account names “HATEWASHTENAWSHERIFFS” and “NatTurnersArmy.” Police said Mealing was the man on all of the videos.
The raid on his home resulted in six computers, three video cameras and several cellphones being seized by police, in addition to the Taser.
Mealing will return to court for a pretrial hearing at 1:30 p.m. March 8.
Swartz put Mealing in the Washtenaw County Jail with a $100,000 bond in August after it was revealed that Mealing had been sending threatening emails to Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Det. Kevin Parviz.
Court records show Mealing has previous convictions for possessing child pornography and assault with a dangerous weapon. He also has a misdemeanor conviction of possessing a firearm in a car.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
RJA
Fri, Jan 13, 2012 : 12:57 a.m.
I personally think Mealing is very fit to stand trial. Glad he was caught when he was, thanks to all involved. I feel confident that Swartz will get him where he needs to go. (and that means prison for many years) He will hate security there too, but so be it!
DrD
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.
So it's legal to own a semi-automatic assault rifle but not a taser? This story needs more background on the laws for taser ownership and why his residence was raided back in November 2010.
stevek
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 10:52 p.m.
Another example of a fine, upstanding, community oriented, law-abiding citizen from the Macarthur Blvd neighborhood.