A Redford Township man is charged with felony assault in Ferndale after police say he blasted a man with bear spray.
Suspect Andre Davis, Jr., 25, was arraigned Tuesday by Ferndale 43rd District Court Magistrate J. Patrick Brennan.
The charge stems from an incident police said happened Oct. 2 in the Ferndale DOT parking garage at 221 W. Troy Street.
Police said the suspect turned himself in at the police station Tuesday after he was notified that the Oakland County Prosecutor’s office issued a warrant against him.
Bear spray is about twice as potent as typical self-defense pepper sprays, including mace, and sprays in a wider swath from a larger can under greater pressure. The spray can cause intense burning of the eyes, and mucous membranes in the nose and throat.
In recent years, police across the country have reported bear spray being used in carjackings, robberies, and other assaults, including attacks during the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Ferndale police Sgt. Janessa Danielson said Davis is accused of using bear spray on an acquaintance who was among a group of about a dozen people who had just left a bar downtown.
Some people in the group were making mock aggressive comments that somehow turned into a bear-spray attack that put a Detroit man, 25, in the hospital, police said.
“It started out as horseplay and then it turned serious,” Danielson said.
Davis is accused of interjecting himself in an argument two other men were having in the parking garage.
According to a witness, the suspect “told the victim to ‘shut the (expletive) up’ and then sprayed him with bear spray,” Danielson said.
The man who was sprayed went to the Soho bar across the street to clean himself up and called police about 2 a.m.
Police officers soon arrived and called an ambulance to take the Detroit man to the hospital, police said.
“He said he was (having) severe symptoms of pain,” Danielson said.
Some of the other people who were there got some of the bear spray on them, but did not require medical attention, she added.
Police began an investigation that led them to Davis as the suspect, police said.
“The suspect did not want to talk to investigators” when they tried to interview him, Danielson said.
Police ultimately concluded their investigation and county prosecutor’s issued a warrant charging Davis last month.
Beyond misdemeanors, Davis has no prior criminal history, police said.
At his arraignment Monday, Davis was released on $2,000 personal bond and prohibited from possessing or purchasing any dangerous weapons.
The assault charge against him is a four-year felony.
Davis is scheduled for a hearing at 1 p.m. Jan. 11 in Ferndale 43rd District Court.