More details have emerged about the upset mother detained outside of the K-8 entrance of Harbor Beach Community Schools last Wednesday afternoon.
39-year-old Jennifer Lynn Howard of Ruth claims that she was at the school to pick up her two sons for a Cass City therapy appointment. However, the school had been informed that the children had been placed into the protective custody of their grandmother and were not to be released from school to Howard, calling police for assistance in the situation.
Upon arrival, police chief Todd Bucholtz was informed that the children did not feel safe going with Howard, nor did they have a therapist in Cass City. Bucholtz stepped outside to talk with Howard, who was already visibly upset and swearing on her phone, and, upon being told by the chief that she was not allowed to enter the school, the mother turned and engaged the officer with both of her hands.
As a result of her alleged assault, she was brought to the ground, with the chief attempting to handcuff her but only managing to cuff her left wrist as she kept her other arm tucked under her body, despite the chief’s demand for compliance. Around this time, Howard allegedly threw the chief’s fallen body camera, also reaching for her purse as Chief called for backup. With the chief unsure if the bag had a weapon, he attempted to keep it away from her, with the mother taking that time to swipe and break the chief’s glasses.
Backup arrived shortly thereafter. A photo taken by a student and submitted to the Huron Daily Tribune newspaper shows Chief Buchholtz and Fire Chief Jason Lermont holding Howard down to handcuff her. When Harbor Beach Police officers Glenn Cook and Ed Shrader escorted her to the car, she kicked a corner panel, denting it, with later reports saying that as she was transported to the jail, in the backseat, Howard was spitting, banging her head against the partition, and threatening the lives of Officer Shrader and Chief Bucholtz.
She was arraigned Thursday on two felony charges for her actions, one count of resisting or obstructing a police officer, and a count of malicious destruction of police property. Howard is currently being held at the Huron County Jail on a $50,000 bond 10% cash or surety.
While the arrest was happening, superintendent Dr. Shawn Bishop says class dismissal for the day was rerouted to the school’s north entrance and away from the K-8 entrance, where the arrest was taking place.
The superintendent noted in a Facebook statement that no student was in any danger and that this was an isolated incident. Classes resumed as usual on Thursday morning.
