Iowa man arraigned in Ontonagon County

By JAN TUCKER

jamadots.com

Ontonagon — An Iowa man faces seven criminal charges in a bizarre incident in the Village of Ontonagon. Paul Dean Smith, 26, DeMoines, Iowa was arraigned in Ontonagon District Court Wednesday. The story started with an alleged theft of an automobile in Iowa. He then drove to Trout Creek where he got stuck and police arrested him in the stolen vehicle Thursday, March 15. Smith then reportedly gave police a false name and while on the way to the jail had a medical incident and was brought to the Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital. On Saturday March 17, Smith escaped from the hospital in his hospital attire.

He then allegedly entered a home near the hospital and asked the resident for clothes and then for keys to the car in the driveway. The resident put him off by saying his wife was out with the other car and took the keys to both cars with her. The resident was in the process of calling 911 when the State Police tracked Smith from the hospital and arrived at the home.

Because the incident was near the Ontonagon school property and several hundred children and adults from Ontonagon and the surrounding area were at the school for the elementary basketball tournament, the school went into a lock down. Ontonagon Superintendent Jim Bobula, at the March 19 school board meeting, commended the personnel for the swift action in going to all the right places with the children during the brief lock-down.

At Tuesdays arraignment Smith was charged with: two counts of first degree home invasion, one count possession with a dangerous weapon (brass knuckles), receiving and concealing stolen material (the vehicle), lying to a police official (giving officers a false name), escape from lawful custody and use of methamphetamine. He was cited as a habitual offender-second.

Bond was set at $100,000 cash or surety.