WARREN, Mich. – A Detroit man accused of brandishing a weapon and threatening three Warren hospital workers while they were on a break was bound over for trial on Thursday after waiving his right to a preliminary exam.
Walter Smith, 31, faces 10 charges in connection to the June 3 incident, which occurred overnight outside Henry Ford Hospital near 12 Mile and Hoover roads.
Prosecutors allege that Smith approached the ER workers around 1:30 a.m. while they were taking a routine break. He then began threatening the employees and ordered them not to move while pointing a gun in their direction, police said.
The workers managed to flee and call 911, however the suspect fled the scene before police arrived. Henry Ford Health says the hospital was placed on a brief lockdown, and Smith was located and arrested by Warren police later that afternoon.
After waiving his preliminary exam, Smith was bound over to the Macomb County Circuit Court Thursday by 37th District Court Judge Steven Bieda on the following charges:
- Carrying a concealed weapon (five-year felony)
- Weapons possession by a prohibited person (five-year felony)
- Two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (five-year felony)
- Three counts of felony firearm (two-year felony)
- Brandishing a weapon in public (90-day misdemeanor)
- Operating a vehicle without a license (90-day misdemeanor)
- Habitual offender - fourth offense
He is being held at the Macomb County Jail on a $500,000 cash/surety bond and is scheduled to be arraigned before Judge Joseph Toia at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 24.