Attorney faces felony case, accused of punching police officer during courthouse argument
Occasionally, people lose their tempers in court.
But an argument between a defense lawyer and a police detective lieutenant in a suburban Detroit courthouse this week escalated to fisticuffs, resulting in the arrest of the attorney, reports the Detroit Free Press.
Attorney Nijad Mehanna, 41, stood mute as he was arraigned Friday on felony and misdemeanor charges, and was released on $10,000 bail, Roseville police said.
He is accused of pushing the unidentified detective in the chest on Wednesday in 39th District Court around 11:30 a.m., after the two exchanged insults about whether Mehanna could talk to a co-defendant of his client in a drug case.
Then, when the other man blocked his access to a restricted office area, Mehanna struck him in the face and then threw several more punches, police told the Free Press.
The attorney was then taken to the ground by a number of officers who were present.
The claimed victim of Mehanna’s alleged attack suffered a bloody nose, a fat lip and several loose teeth, authorities said, but the attorney was uninjured.
Mehanna and his lawyer could not be reached for comment by the newspaper.
Chief James Berlin of the Roseville police said there had been no prior incidents concerning Mehanna. A violent confrontation at the courthouse involving anyone is a rarity, he noted.
“We’ve had some pushing matches and shouting matches, but no punches thrown,” he said.
