(WXYZ) — A wave of growing danger and attempts by criminals to target police and federal agents is hitting close to home here in Michigan.
As technology develops, police and federal agents are seeing a growing danger from criminals looking to plan an attack. It’s something they say weighs on them daily.
"During our training, we’ve always been told to expect the unexpected,” said Lt. Derrick Carroll with the Michigan State Police.
A 25-year veteran of the force, Lt. Carroll is opening up about the alleged plot by 67-year-old Roger Allan Broadstone. Police say the man from twinning wanted for $1,500 in credit card fraud in West Branch, not only ripped off a woman from Merritt, but then attempted a crime far more sinister.
“We’re out there doing the right thing, trying to help the public and here we have an individual who made an effort to harm officers,” Lt. Carroll said.
Now facing attempted murder and other charges, state police say back on Jan. 20, Broadstone refused to speak with detectives at his home and barricaded himself inside with deadly booby traps for when officers would return with a search warrant.
Thankfully his plan failed. He's now locked up on more than $1 million bond.
“Things like ring doorbells and other surveillance cameras have advanced to the point where it will give a bad guy a heads up on officers or agents approaching the home,” said Dan Roberts, retired FBI assistant director.
Franklin Police Chief Dan Roberts says knowing a criminal's history and planning how best to carry out an arrest or search are routine steps that are taken. But sadly, the recent tragic deaths of FBI agents in Miami serve as a reminder some will do anything to escape the law.
Roberts adds that thousands of searches and arrests happen daily in the U.S., and require officers and agents to draw upon their survival training at any given time. He credits MSP for preventing loss of life in a case that initially showed no sign of the potential for violence.
