A 70-year-old Michigan man accused of throwing a bucket of feces on the front doors of the Saginaw County Courthouse has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
On March 3, Saginaw County District Judge David D. Hoffman ordered Robert J. Brewer, of Burt, to have his competency evaluated by staff at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti. The evaluation will determine whether Brewer is mentally fit to stand trial.
Brewer’s defense attorney requested the evaluation, saying the man needs help rather than punishment through the criminal justice system.
Prosecutors allege that on the afternoon of Feb. 16, Brewer rode a minibike nearly 30 miles from his home to the courthouse and threw a five-gallon bucket of feces onto the building’s glass front doors at 111 S. Michigan Ave. The courthouse was closed for Presidents’ Day, but surveillance cameras captured the incident.
The mess was cleaned by a professional cleaning company before the courthouse reopened the next day.
Authorities said Brewer’s granddaughter contacted police after he reportedly made threats toward the courthouse and expressed violent thoughts.
Deputies later located Brewer on Feb. 19 and arrested him on an unrelated outstanding warrant. During a search of his home, officers reportedly found two shotguns and ammunition, which he is prohibited from possessing due to his prior felony convictions.
Investigators said Brewer told deputies he carried out the act as revenge against the courthouse.
Brewer has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1983, with at least 12 convictions. Depending on the results of the psychiatric evaluation, the court will determine whether the case can proceed.