6/16/14 - An Oakland County Sheriffâs deputy has entered a plea to charges stemming from a bar fight in Hartland Township. Deputy Thomas Knasiak, who worked out of the Highland Township substation, and co-defendant Andrew Coleman of Howell were arrested on St. Patrickâs Day on a felony count of resisting or obstructing a police officer. Last week, they agreed to plead no contest to the misdemeanor charge of attempted resisting or obstructing a police officer. While thatâs not a legal admission of guilt, it will be treated as such when they are both sentenced in July. The incident began when Livingston County Central Dispatch received a call from OâMalleyâs Irish Pub at about 8pm for a report of a man being assaulted. A Michigan State Police trooper was the first on the scene, and Knasiak and Coleman were pointed out as the two men involved. The pair was subdued by the trooper and a deputy from the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department and taken into custody. Knasiak was placed into a ânon-deputizedâ position with the Corrections Division, and had his gun, badge, and identification taken away pending the outcome of an internal investigation and criminal charges. Itâs not known if his status has changed. Both he and Coleman must also pay restitution of more than $4,600.joint and severally of $4,693.92. (JK)
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