Man tells deputies voices told him to break into Jehovah's Witness hall

[Guest Nicole]

BAY CITY, MI — A 23-year-old man is facing criminal charges that he broke into and vandalized a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall, claiming he was following the orders of the voices in his head.

About 3:17 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, Bay County sheriff's deputies responded to a call about family trouble at a home in the 5300 block of Kasemeyer Road in Monitor Township. The caller said his son, Christopher D. Brown, had torn up the family's backyard and then started walking south along the road. The father added his son's hands were bleeding, court records show.

While deputies were on the way, a second person called Bay County Central Dispatch to advise that Brown was in the parking lot of the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall at 5435 Kasemeyer Road in Monitor Township.

Deputies arrived to find a set of double doors on the building's west side had been opened, with glass broken out of them, court records show. Deputies followed a trail of blood inside and found Brown sitting on the floor of the men's restroom, blood on his hands, arms, and face, with his mother beside him, court records show.

Brown told deputies he didn't recall what had happened, but that he had blacked out and had heard voices telling him to do it. He added he thinks he has schizophrenia, though he's been diagnosed only with bi-polar disorder, court records show.

Brown told deputies police he is not on prescribed medication, but has a long history of narcotic drug abuse, though he hadn't used that day or for some time prior.

Brown's father told deputies his son hadn't acted this way before. He said he awoke to his son listening to a motivational speaker and noticed his yard was torn up, court records show.

Brown was transported by ambulance to McLaren Bay Region hospital. Deputies spoke to him again there and Brown reiterated that "he was listening to the voices in his head and followed their direction without fear," according to court records.

Brown told deputies he broke his dad's grill, then broke into the Kingdom Hall with a rock. He smeared blood all over himself in the restroom and sat down, deputies said. He said he snapped out of it upon hearing his parents' voices, court records show.

Brown told the deputies he was sorry and that he wanted to see God as a reason for why he entered the building, court records show.

Bay County Probate Judge John C. Keuvelaar on Monday, March 21, arraigned Brown on single counts of malicious destruction of a building between $1,000 and $20,000 and breaking and entering-illegal entry. The former is a five-year felony while the latter is a 90-day misdemeanor.

Keuvelaar released Brown on a personal recognizance bond and suggested he be evaluated for mental health issues.

Brown is to appear for a preliminary examination before District Judge Mark E. Janer at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 7.

Source: http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2016/03/police_say_bay_county_man_brok.html