Kevin J. Simmonds

Deadly force

Police responded at about 5 p.m. after Kevin Simmonds' father reported that his mentally ill son had threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend's parents. Trooper Joshua Dirkse, Richmond Township officer Michael Bernard, Genesee County Sgt. William Tucker, and deputies James Comstock and Douglas Douglas Stone pursued Simmonds' truck in their patrol cars until Simmonds got stuck in the snow in a wooded area. The officers got out and approached Simmonds' other. According to police, Simmonds refused to show his hands, so Stone opened the door and tasered him, but his jacket apparently rendered the shock ineffective. Simmonds allegedly arose, yelled he had a gun and turned toward the officers with his hands extended in a firing position, holding a "shiny object." Comstock and Dirkse shot and killed Simmonds.