Crime & Safety
Brighton Area Schools Trustee Faces Assault Charge
Attorney for John Joseph Conely said his client thought his car was being stolen.
Brighton Area Schools Trustee John Joseph Conely, 48, has posted bond after an arraignment on charges of felonious assault and reckless driving.
He was released Saturday on $5,000 personal bond, according to LivingstonDaily.com, after a hearing regarding an incident the day before.
According to a press release, Michigan State Police responded to call at 2:25 p.m. Friday of a vehicle ramming another vehicle off the road at the intersection of Grand River Avenue and Herbst Road, in Brighton Township.
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Police say they believe Conley rammed his red Chevrolet Impala into a tow truck which was sent to repossess a blue Chevrolet Avalanche Conely had purchased from Shaheen Chevrolet in Lansing, but had failed to make payments on.
According to the release, when the tow truck left the lot, Conely followed the driver east on Grand River Avenue. It was reported that he hit the truck and causing it to strike the curb.
Conely’s attorney, Neal D. Nielsen, told Brighton Patch that his client believed the Avalanche was being stolen from his Brighton car lot, Conely Auto Sales, and left to retrieve his property. Nielsen is now outlining Friday's events to explain Conely's actions in following the tow truck as the investigation continues.
Brighton Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Gregory B. Gray was not available for comment.
