LANSING, Mich. — A man charged with murder for striking and killing a firefighter last year was found mentally incompetent to stand trial.
Grant Taylor, 23, was charged with the murder of Dennis Rodeman, 35, who was killed in September 2015 while he and other firefighters were collecting donations for a charity event.
According to police, Taylor became enraged by the traffic caused by fundraiser and intentionally struck Rodeman before fleeing the scene. He was arrested shortly after. Rodeman died from his injuries at a hospital.
Taylor has a history of mental illness. Although he was found competent to stand trial last year, his attorney asked for a second evaluation in April.
This time, a judge ruled that Taylor was not competent to assist his attorney. Competency to stand trial means that a defendant has an understanding of the roles of the judge, their attorney, the prosecution and jury and can assist their attorney in defense, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The judge order Taylor be sent to the state’s psychiatric facility; however, the facility has a waiting list, and it may be several months before he is admitted.
Taylor will remain in county jail until then.
“If he remains incompetent I guess we have to come back and determine how to move forward,” ruled Judge Clinton Canady III.
The state has 15 months to bring Taylor back to competency for trial before having to dismiss the charges. Should that occur, prosecutors have the option to petition to have Taylor involuntarily admitted to a state psychiatric hospital.