Police: 911 call disconnects while woman reports man for trying to throw her out of car in Northern Michigan

Bennie Cornish accused of grabbing woman by throat

Bennie Cornish (WDIV)

HAYES TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A 911 call was disconnected in Northern Michigan while a woman reported a man was trying to steal her phone and throw her out of a car, police said.

Michigan State Police troopers received the call around 3:15 a.m. Oct. 18 from a woman in Hayes Township, according to authorities.

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The woman told police that Bennie Cornish, 30, of Alanson, was trying to throw her out of a vehicle and take her phone, officials said.

While the dispatcher spoke with the woman, the call got disconnected, police said. The dispatcher called the woman back several times before finally getting ahold of her again, according to police.

Troopers spoke with the woman at a location along Boyne City-Charlevoix Road. She said Cornish offered to give her a ride to her home, but they got into an argument.

She said Cornish grabbed her by the throat and held her by the hair. He also tried to take her phone, the woman told police.

Cornish threw the woman out of the vehicle after she got her phone back, she said.

Police said the woman got in and out of the vehicle on her own free will.

Cornish also called 911 and told police he wanted the woman out of his car because she was assaulting him, officials said. He told them he dropped her off along Boyne City-Charleviox Road.

Cornish was arrested and arraigned on charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation, interfering with electronic communications, misdemeanor domestic violence and habitual offender -- third offense notice.

He faces up to 10 years in prison on the assault charge, two years on the interfering charge and 93 days in jail on the domestic violence charge.

Cornish was released on $20,000 bail. He is scheduled to return to 90th District Court in Charlevoix County on Nov. 19.


About the Author:

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.