A judge set bond at $1 million after prosecutors described evidence from body cameras, dash cameras and court records.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A man accused of shooting a Kalamazoo County sheriff’s deputy, taking the deputy’s patrol cruiser and fleeing officers across three counties was arraigned Monday on 14 felony charges.
Jaylen Lipsey appeared by video from the Kalamazoo County Jail as a judge read charges that include assault with intent to murder, carjacking, disarming a police officer and resisting or obstructing an officer causing serious injury. He also faces assault and firearm-related charges. The accusations have not been proven in court.
Judge Becket Jones set Lipsey’s bond at $1 million, citing the seriousness of the allegations and Lipsey’s prior felony convictions. Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said after the hearing that authorities have body-camera and patrol-car video that they expect to use as evidence.
“Given the severe nature of the charges, the evidence that we have, the body cameras and in-car dash camera video footage, we have a good case,” Getting said. He said Lipsey’s criminal record and history of substance use also raised concerns about releasing him on bond.
The case stems from a July 17 report of someone trying to break into vehicles outside Richland Auto in Richland Township. Court documents say Deputy Kaleb Mortimer encountered Lipsey jogging along East AB Avenue and ordered him to stop. Lipsey initially refused before going to the ground, according to the documents.
Mortimer tried to place Lipsey in handcuffs, but Lipsey resisted and overpowered him during a struggle, authorities allege. Court records say Lipsey reached for the deputy’s handgun and that the weapon fired while the two fought over it, striking Mortimer in the leg and causing a potentially life-threatening injury.
The court documents allege that Lipsey then pointed the gun toward Mortimer’s head and tried to fire again. The weapon did not discharge, and Lipsey threw it away, according to the documents. Jones referred to that allegation while explaining the seriousness of the case during the arraignment.
Authorities say Lipsey then entered Mortimer’s cruiser and drove west on M-89. Officers pursued the stolen vehicle through Kalamazoo, Barry and Allegan counties during a chase that court documents say covered about 30 miles and reached speeds of up to 125 mph.
The pursuit ended in the Kalamazoo area after another deputy used a patrol vehicle to force the stolen cruiser off its path, authorities said. The cruiser struck a civilian van, and officers removed Lipsey after he refused commands to get out, according to the court filing.
Mortimer was reported in stable condition while recovering from his injuries. Lipsey remained in the Kalamazoo County Jail following the arraignment. A date for his next court appearance was not provided in the available reports.
Author note: Last updated July 22, 2026.