Man accused of spraying Detroit police officers with fire extinguisher in 3 incidents

A Livonia, Michigan, man is charged with assaulting Detroit police officers after prosecutors say he sprayed a fire extinguisher at officers in three separate incidents. 

Zachary Robert Stacer, 22, was arrested on Thursday and charged with two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, three counts of felonious assault and five counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer. 

On June 22, around 4:16 p.m., Wayne County prosecutors say Detroit police attempted to disperse traffic during a street takeover in the area of Grand River Avenue and West Warren Avenue when Stacer approached the officers' vehicle and sprayed a fire extinguisher before leaving the scene. 

Authorities say around midnight on July 12, police responded to the area of Van Dyke and Charlevoix Street for reports of street racing and were dispersing traffic when Stacer again approached the officers' vehicle, sprayed a fire extinguisher and then left the area. 

Later the same night, around 3 a.m., prosecutors say police were in the area of Grand River Avenue and McGraw Street for reports of street racing. As officers worked to disperse traffic, prosecutors allege Stacer sprayed the officers' vehicle with a fire extinguisher.

The judge who conducted Stacer's arraignment on Saturday said Stacer is considered dangerous, noting that some of the officers in the incidents went to the hospital.

Mark Kollar, Stacer's defense attorney, asked the judge to give him house arrest to be better supervised at home. 

"Mr. Stacer has been diagnosed with autism as a child and has ODD [oppositional defiant disorder]; he has been diagnosed with that as well. I think any continued incarceration is not going to help him or the matter," Kollar said.

Oppositional defiant disorder is a behavioral condition that causes anger and even vindictiveness toward authority figures.

The judge also said there is video linking Stacer to the assault evidence that Kollar says he has not seen.

Stacer is facing a $50,000 cash bond; he will be back in court on Monday to reevaluate the bond. 

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said his department is monitoring people who take part in or watch street takeovers and drag races, which can be deadly.