On June 26th, 2024, deputies in Grand Traverse County were dispatched to a welfare check on Jeffrey Topous. A social worker with the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency reported that Jeffrey had sent multiple suicidal text messages. Hello. Hi. What's going on? Don't talk to you guys. What's your name, man? I don't have a name. We're looking for some We're just looking for somebody. Are you Jeffrey? No, I'm not. Are you sure? Mhm. Okay. Yeah. Are you suicidal? No. You're not talking to anybody via text message, an outreach person? No. Okay. All right. Do you need any resources? No, there's no resources here. This is the resource that that that that I have here, so. Is there anything that we can do to help you? No, there's nothing you guys can do to help me cuz you guys don't want to help anyone. Well, that's not true. It is true. I wouldn't ask or I wouldn't offer help if I didn't want to help you. >> help all the time, but they don't really mean it, so. I've never talked to you before. No. I don't say things I don't mean. People do all the time. Okay. I'm sorry you feel that way, man. Fuck you. So, you don't want any help? I mean, no. Why would I want any help from you guys? I'm just offering. No. >> We're out here looking, I assume, for you. It's all right if you don't want to tell me your name, but I'm going to guess it's you. It's not. Okay. Yeah. So, there's nothing that we can do to help you? No. But you guys can go ahead and put a little 7-day thingy on here and I'll move along the way, don't worry. >> I'm I'm not going to put a 7-day thing here. I don't care that you're here, dude. It's not why I'm here. I'm here to check on you and make sure that you're okay. Well, I'm not okay, but it doesn't matter, so bye. >> It matters to me. It doesn't matter. You were You were given a phone call by someone who said to be worried about someone. That's correct. >> you're here. That's correct. You're bullshitting me. I don't need to be fucked. I'm not bullshitting you. I've said it from the beginning why I'm here cuz we got a phone call that you're suicidal. I'm still alive, right? >> You are. Okay, bye. So, I'm just making sure that you are okay and that there's nothing that we can do to help you. Nothing. Okay. Yeah. You didn't have your phones You didn't have your phones He needs to go. He needs to go with them. >> Jeffrey Topous >> problem with me? >> He needs He needs to leave. >> We're just here to help you, dude. >> No, he's not. No, he needs to go. I can put He needs to try. Hey, hey. >> He needs to go. What's What's the problem? >> He's gone. Let me see your hands, Jeffrey. >> Okay. He is gone. Don't reach for stuff. >> to leave. >> He is. He needs to leave. >> He is. Let me see your hands, please. >> Right here. Okay. Please don't reach for anything. I'm about to grab my knife. Don't do it. I'm about to stab Fuck Please. Is there anything that we can do to help you? >> He needs to leave. And that guy needs to leave. He's my trainee. I don't give a I We'll leave. Have a great day. Yeah, go fuck yourselves. I'm blowing up your fucking police department. It sounds like he is escalating to the point where I forget your employee's name, Eric? Evan. Um he sent me text messages and I don't know if you were able to see them, but he says, "I put a bomb in your building. If I see you, I'm going to kill you, scum of the earth. I hope you're tortured. If you tell the cops Tell the cops I've got a gun and I'll come kill them." Um sent a picture of a knife, said, "Are you scared yet?" And this was Evan. >> Said, "Yeah, I'm on my way to the office. I've got a few guns and a knife and I'm going to kill all of you." And then "I'm using this on you. Come on. Your life Your life is meaningless." I would. Fuck, yes. Can we go back in the building? No. So, how do we So, right now we're working on getting a canine here. >> Okay, okay. Um just because I don't think his threats are legitimate. >> Yeah. Um obviously, you guys would have noticed if somebody walked into your building. Um but we're going to use every side of precaution Okay. just because not only is he saying that he's on his way here, um but he's planning to put the bomb here. He then proceeded to text our 911 dispatch saying the exact same thing to our building. Um obviously, ours is very very secure and, you know, but uh just the simple fact that he's now saying, "Well, I'm on my way there" and all of this stuff, so. In addition to threatening to bomb the law enforcement center and NMCAA building, Jeffrey also called in a bomb threat on the 86th District Courthouse, the historic courthouse, and the Goodwill Inn. All locations were placed on lockdown while bomb detection dogs conducted sweeps and law enforcement searched for Jeffrey. While checking the area, a deputy located Jeffrey riding his bike on a sidewalk. Hey, you're right now. Sir, stop. Get on the ground. I said to get on the ground. [screaming] You're going to get tased. Sir, get on the ground. [screaming] Stay on the ground. He's taking off from me on his bike. Three nights clear ahead your way. Break out that voicemail. He's going by Value City Furniture on his bike. He's going to be on the Boardman Trail. Sergeant Davin, are you deploying tasers? That's not true. He's been tased too. Taser deployed. I'm at Value City Furniture off South Airport. Sir, Value City Furniture. We have both those entrances to District Court shut down. Ouch. Yes, I am. On a bike. Yes, he's on a bike. He's on the wooden boardwalk part of the Boardman Trail. So, he went So, the wooden boardwalk over there, he went down the ramp and then So, I'm assuming he's going to be further into the trail there. Did you guys see him? I saw him, yeah. >> What's he What's he look like? Balding, got brown beard about this long. I think he's wearing a blue shirt and had a backpack, red bike. All right, I'm I'm going to start walking it. No, cuz he probably kept going north. Who's that guy right there? That's not him. Oh, that guy? Uh no, that's not him. All right. If you want to go grab maybe behind the library? Yeah, and then we're Oh, somebody's chasing him. Jeffrey go that way. Dude, dude, Jeffrey, get on the ground. Stop. I'm going to Stop. >> I'm going to Hey, I'm going to kill you. Stop me. Listen. I want to die, please. >> I know. I know you >> Please, sir. I know you do. I know you do. Buddy, listen, man. I know you do. I hate my life, dude. I know. >> going back to prison. You're not going to go to prison, buddy. Yeah, you guys are putting me in jail. You want a pop or something? No, I don't want nothing from you. You're a god I want you to grab me. I want you to grab me. I want you to >> How about a beer? No. You want a beer? You got a beer? Huh? You got a beer? I do, [laughter] in my truck. Yeah. Listen. >> beer? Put your hands behind your back for me, okay? I'm going to jail and Put your hands behind your back for me, okay? >> I will do it. Okay, you're going to go You're going to jail. Yeah. So, You don't want to kill me, do you? No. I'm going to kill you. Just stop. Stop it. I'm going to kill you. Stop it. Now I got to make the felony worth it. You know what I mean? Just stop. You know what I mean? Just stop. Never. Just >> you. I want you to kill me. >> Just stop. No. Come on. That's That's like Come on. Just stop. Come on. Just stop. Come on. Come on. I assaulted you. >> Just stop. Kill me. I know you do, but I don't want to hurt you. Come on. How many How many Just stop. Come on. Come on. How many charges is it? That's one, two, three, four, right? Come on. Just stop. on. Come on. I want to go to prison for the rest of my life. You're not going to, buddy. Yeah, I am. Come here and talk Yeah, I am. Come on. Come down here and talk to you. No. He's not. Just stop. Cuz I'm going to kill you and Brent. Just stop. You see what I'm saying? Do you understand what I'm saying, motherfucker? Do you understand what the fuck I'm saying? >> I do. I I'm going to kill you. I understand you want to do that, buddy. But just stop. >> want to go to jail. Fuck you. Tell me shut up. Let go of me, motherfucker. If you let go of me, I'm going to kill you. I can't, man. Come on, do it. Come on, hurt me. Hurt me, dick. Stop. I said hurt me, motherfucker. Come on. I'm way stronger than you, motherfucker. Stop. Come on. Stop. Come on. Grab your gun, bitch. Stop. Grab it or I will. Grab your god damn I'm not going to do that. Grab your gun. Come on. I got a gun in my bag. I'm going to kill you with it. No, you're not. Watch this. No, you're not. So, let go of me. Let go of me. Leave me alone. Yeah, you're good. We're behind the Lear building. >> [snorts] >> Let's go. Get your gun out. I need you down here now. Get your gun. I can't, man. Get your gun out, motherfucker. I'm down off the ditch. We're coming up to the top. These are pretty flowers, you know. They are pretty flowers. Yes, come on. Come on, you fat Dude. Get up here. I am a fat Come on, let's go. Get up here, buddy. What are you so mad What are you so mad about? Come on, I'll help you. What are you so mad about? What am I mad about? Yeah. I'm mad because I am tired of being on the bottom of everything, bro. Okay. I am tired of being nobody. Now, please. Come up here, bud. All right, I'm going to come and follow you. All right. I'll follow you. you. All right. Okay. Let's go. Let's just walk up. What are you going to do? Do yourself. I'm good. Turn around and put your hands behind your back for me, all right? I'm going to sit right here, brother. What's that? I said sit down. I said sit down. Tell me your status, Derek. Yeah, yeah, yeah, what's your status? You already to kill somebody today? Put him in cuffs, sweetie. You already to kill me? All right, put your hands behind your back. Put your hands behind your back. I love you. I love you too, my little dude. Woo, y'all are detaining somebody running on a bike. Congrats, y'all feel good about yourselves? Check the cuffs. Yep. I got to double check them. When do I When do I I mean, I'm going to kill you. What's your name, Woody? I got you, bud. You're dead. Who are you? I know where you live. Yes, sir. I'll be back. Anything on you? Ain't got nothing on me, bitch. All right. All right. Fucking dick. Stop. I can't wait to go back to the yard, baby. I can't wait to go back to the yard. Is you worried? I can't wait to go to the yard, motherfucker. That's not a man. No, I ain't got nothing on me. You want me to smoke? You think he's good? What about all my stuff, huh? Oh, the sheriff himself. Look at that. Y'all get I know the sheriff. I'm I got priority, motherfucker. 10. You got a backpack? That's just white gray down there. Whoever's on the trail with the camera. Jeffrey was charged with four counts of false reporting of terrorism, one count of resisting and obstructing police causing injury, and habitual offender third offense notice. Jeffrey ultimately pleaded guilty and all charges except one count of false report of terrorism were dismissed. On November 8th, 2024, Jeffrey was sentenced to 5 years to 20 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections with credit for 135 days time served. His earliest release date is June 25th, 2029 and his maximum possible release date is June 25th, 2044. He also received $1,048 in fines and court costs. For help finding crisis resources, text HOME, H O M E, or HOLA, H O L A, to 741 741 or visit www.crisistextline.org.