A Roseville manwho was shot by police after he rammed a police SUVand is now paralyzed from the chest down is to be sentenced Nov. 4 after pleading no contest in the incident nearly a year ago.
Daniel Minnick, 37, pleaded no contest to four charges on Sept. 17 in Macomb County Circuit Court, according to a release from the county prosecutor's office Monday, Sept. 21.
Minnick, who had no criminal history and who authorities previously believed to be a prior supporter of law enforcement, was hurt in the Oct. 13, 2025 incident outside of the Roseville police station on Gratiot Avenue. The incident, which the county sheriff previously called a "targeted attack," was caught on video.
Minnick's attorney, William Barnwell, told the Free Press: "I feel
confident that my client did not have any intent to harm anybody else."
"There's a Cobbs agreement to no incarceration," Barnwell said. "My client is paralyzed for life. The consequences that he is going to bear are worse than any court could ever lay down. That said, he's a fundamentally good person who was going through an extremely difficult period; and he and his family look forward to putting this situation behind him."
Minnick pleaded no contest to carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, malicious destruction of fire or police property and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, according to online court records. They mention the Cobbs agreement, which attorneys said is between the judge and the defendant, and forfeiture of the involved weapon.
Minnick was charged after county authorities last year said he rammed the police SUV at a high rate of speed, then exited his vehicle while holding a hunting knife that was more than 6 inches long. Video captured officers screaming at him to drop the knife, followed by several gunshots from police.
Authorities previously said it appeared that the suspect conducted a practice run with his car before backing up and waiting for an officer to exit the station and enter the marked vehicle, according to video released last year.
Authorities previously said Minnick was shot in the lower back, left thigh, upper right back, upper right shoulder, lower right ankle and upper right groin.
County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in the release that Minnick is paralyzed from the chest down and in a wheelchair from his injuries. The officer in the rammed SUV suffered minor injuries, authorities previously said.
"This case has had life-altering consequences, including for the defendant himself. While his injuries may make incarceration unlikely, the seriousness of his conduct cannot be overlooked. His no-contest plea acknowledges his responsibility, and the court will determine the appropriate sentence," Lucido said.
After the incident, County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said authorities talked with the suspect's family and ascertained some information, including that he has had some mental health issues, though Wickersham did not not elaborate. They also said there was no indication of drug or alcohol use by the suspect at the time of incident, adding neitherRosevillepolice nor thesheriff's office had any prior contact with him.
Wickersham said last year that the silver Pontiac G5 car that the suspect used to ram the police SUV belonged to the man's father. He rammed it into the police SUV shortly after three officers walked toward police vehicles, including the marked SUV.
After the incident, then-Roseville Police Chief Mitch Berlin said the officers were responding to an alarm or motion call when the incident occurred in the parking lot. He said it was unknown to anyone inside the station that the man was in the parking lot.
Authorities determined the two officers who fired seven shots were justified and faced no criminal charges.
Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @challreporter.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan man shot after ramming police SUV, holding knife takes plea
