A West Bloomfield man accused of making a threat outside the Max M. Fisher Jewish Federation Building last year pleaded no contest Tuesday to a felony charge.
Steven Daniel Zalla entered his plea before Oakland County Circuit Judge Jacob Cunningham for one count of felonious assault stemming from a reported Nov. 2, 2023 incident. According to Bloomfield Township police, Zalla made the threats with a pellet gun, outside the building located at 56735 Telegraph Rd.
A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. It can also offer some protection in civil liability cases.
Police said the incident unfolded after Zalla was denied entrance to the Jewish Federation Building because he didn’t have a valid photo ID. He reportedly left the building’s front entrance, returned to his car and then went back to the building’s entrance where he encountered a food delivery person outside. The food delivery person reportedly told officers he saw a gun in Zalla’s waistband, and a FedEx driver delivering a package to the building reportedly told police that Zalla ordered him to move his vehicle — and then pulled out the gun and pointed it at him. Zalla reportedly ran behind him for a short distance, with gun in hand, as the FedEx driver drove away and called 911, police said.
Zalla faces up to four years in prison and/or a fine of up to $2,000.
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