Hatchet-wielding teen disarmed by cop

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - A 16-year-old is in jail after allegedly pulling a hatchet out during a struggle with a Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer just before 4 a.m. Sunday.

In all, three 16-year-olds are behind bars for the incident that began with a report of a break-in at a storage unit in the 800 block of E. Cork Street.

When officers arrived, the three teens ran away. An officer caught up with one of the suspects in the woods behind the business. During a struggle, police said, the teen pulled a hatchet from his waistband and tried to assault the officer.  But the officer, Marc Rifenberg, disarmed the suspect and arrested him.

The other two teenage suspects were caught by other officers.

They're all being held at the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home and face charges of breaking and entering, resisting and obstructing arrest, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent and felonious assault on a police officer. The prosecutor is reviewing the case.