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Brian Canen's training, reflexes and positioning made what very well was a life-and-death difference in an Ingham County court this past week.
Jim Schaefer of the Detroit Free Press speaks with the quick-acting detective who blocked an attempted stabbing of an assistant prosecutor by a man accused of fondling two kids in a cemetery, as shown in a video below. Defendant Joshua Harding, who was convicted in that earlier case, now will face more serious charges.
As the original crime's lede investigator, Canen was standing next to assistant prosecutor Jonathan Roth when the defendant lunged at him with a sharpened piece of metal. Here's part of what the heroic police officer tells Schaefer:
► Reflexive reaction: There was no hesitation. I guess I didn’t have time to think. I just had time to react, and that’s kind of what we do. We react based on people's actions. . . . My goal was to keep him from getting to the prosecutor.
► Two burly guys: I’m about 6-4, about the same weight as him [280]. I’m not a small gentleman either, so there was a lot of meat coming together.
► Modesty: Everybody has, I guess, seen me as a hero. . . . But I’m a very quiet, personal person, so this spotlight is not something I’m super comfortable with or used to.
► Aftermath:: I had some back pain, and some neck pain.
Original article, Thursday afternoon:
Joshua Harding, 35, tried to wound or kill one of his prosecutors.
Video obtained by the Lansing State Journal shows Harding, awaiting a verdict on two sexual assault charges in Ingham County Circuit Court, pulling a shank blade from his shirt and lunging and trying to stab assistant Ingham County Prosecutor Jonathan Roth in the neck.
Matt Mencarini of the Journal describes the drama:
As a jury was walking into the courtroom on the third floor of the courthouse with its verdict, the video shows Harding appearing to pull something from his sleeve before charging across the room at Roth.
In the video, Harding appears to target Roth specifically, running past another assistant prosecutor to get to Roth.
While appearing to be holding the weapon, which officials have described as a shank, the video shows Harding tries to stab Roth but misses, possibly due to the efforts of Detective Brian Canen of the Meridian Township Police Department.
Harding ran at Roth from the prosecutor's left. Canen, who was standing on the other side of Roth, sees Harding as he's halfway to the prosecution table and starting to raise his right hand, which appears to have the weapon. Roth ducks and Canen's arm appears to deflect Harding's arm as the detective starts to tackle Harding.
From the video, it appears Harding's weapon missed Roth's face by inches.
Two sheriff's deputies then jump in and help to restrain the burly defendant, described as weighing about 280 pounds.
The Journal adds this sequel:
Harding's trial was adjourned after Tuesday's incident. The jury, which had reached a verdict before Harding's attempted assault, read its verdict this morning.
Harding was convicted on a second-degree criminal sexual conduct charge. The jury was deadlocked on a second charge — fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct — that prosecutors dismissed.
