PORT HURON, Mich. – A man armed with a machete threatened Port Huron police officers Tuesday during an argument with his brother over newborn kittens, police said. The incident was captured on dashcam video.
Police said Joseph Curtis, 32, was fighting with a family member outside the Port Huron home. The arguing grew louder, and by the time police arrived just before 8 a.m. Sunday, Curtis was holding a machete and started yelling threats at the officers.
Police said Curtis yelled, "Bring all your friends. The only way you're taking me is if you shoot me."
"They kept telling him to back up and drop your weapon," Curtis' family member said. "Back up drop your weapon. He kept charging at the car, and the car actually was bumping him, trying to push him back."
A Port Huron officer did shoot Curtis but with a bean bag shotgun. Curtis dropped the machete, fell down and was quickly put in the back of a squad car.
"He could have instantly been killed," the family member said.
A family member said the argument was between Curtis and his brother. Curtis was apparently upset, because he thought someone had gone into his room, taken newborn kittens and moved them behind the couch.
He's facing assault charges and assault with intent to murder charges.
"They did what they could so that they didn't have to kill him, I believe," the family member said.
Curtis doesn't live at the home. The relative said she doesn't know him well, but that he's always in jail.
Curtis has a history of crime, including a 2003 domestic violence conviction, 2004 assault and stolen vehicle charges and a 2009 felon in possession of a firearm charge.