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Elgin cop sentenced to probation, fines in misdemeanor offense

All three of the original charges against an Elgin police officer accused of assault and battery as well as resisting and obstructing an officer in Michigan have been dropped, officials said.

Lance Adams III, 50, of Huntley pleaded no contest to one final misdemeanor charge, attempted resisting and obstructing an officer, Monday in Muskegon County. His attorney, David Shafer, said the offense means next to nothing in Michigan.

“The way the statute is written in Michigan, a police officer can literally tell you to come here or go there and if you don’t do it in a reasonable amount of time, that’s considered resisting,” Shafer said.

Adams and his nephew, Jamie Smith, 29, of South Bend, Ind., spent July 16 at the Michigan Adventure amusement park but were arrested after they attacked two workers who didn’t let them on the ride, according to the initial police report.

Another report, filed July 19, described Adams resisting a police officer in the county jail.

According to the jail report: Adams refused to leave a cell when told to do so by an officer. Adams pushed and pulled away from the officer as he tried to get him out of the cell he was sharing with Smith and other inmates. Jail staff members struck Adams in an attempt to gain control but no one was injured in the scuffle.

Officers brought Adams to the floor but he again refused to turn onto his stomach to be handcuffed, the report said.

Adams, a 9-year member of the Elgin Police Department, was placed on restricted duty after the initial charges. Lt. Glenn When asked about Adams’ job status now that his court case is over, Theriault said the department’s own investigation is still pending but could not comment because the issue is related to personnel.

“We are looking at it internally,” Theriault said.

Adams will serve no jail time for the misdemeanor, but was sentenced to six months of probation and $678 in fines and fees, Shafer confirmed.

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