Man who challenged Redford Township police on Facebook is sent to jail

Michael Zaydel sentenced to 39 days in jail

REDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A man in Redford Township tempted fate, and now he's doing jail time.

The man who turned himself in after taunting Redford Township police on Facebook faced a judge Tuesday and was hauled off to jail.

Michael Zaydel, infamously known as Champagne Torino, told Redford Township police if their Facebook post got 1,000 shares, he would turn himself in and bring a dozen doughnuts.

Police accepted Zaydel's challenge, and the post quickly surpassed 1,000 shares.

"So you're really not interested in complying with probation, right?" Judge Charlotte Wirth asked Zaydel. "We're not talking about money. We're talking about you doing anything."

Wirth wasn't letting the 21-year-old off the hook.

"You failed to submit to any random drug and alcohol testing. You've had an outstanding balance. You never completed your work program," Wirth said.

As the list went on, Zaydel first sat stone-faced with his arms crossed, and then he tried to explain himself. He said he doesn't have means to get back and forth from the things that he was asked to do.

"It's impossible," he said.

Zaydel got his five minutes of fame after challenging police on Facebook earlier this month. He turned himself in Monday night, bringing doughnuts and a bagel.

"He did it in a fun manner, but our intent was legitimate and serious the entire time," Sgt. Duane Gregg said.

Zaydel will spend at least the next 39 days in jail.

"Sometimes that in and of itself is a help for people to realize that they need to get their life back in order," Wirth said.

If Zaydel can't pay his fines in the next 39 days, the judge ordered him to spend another 30 days behind bars.


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Priya joined WDIV-Local 4 in 2013 as a reporter and fill-in anchor. Education: B.A. in Communications/Post Grad in Advanced Journalism

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