A Gladwin man pleaded guilty Friday to two misdemeanors in exchange for the dismissal of four felonies.
Tyler Hillman, 26, faces a jury trial in April in connection with an Oct. 1, 2022, retail fraud charge and a scuffle with Midland police that resulted in the use of a taped gun. I chose that.
Hillman was charged with felony assault, resisting and obstructing police resulting in injury, assault, resisting and obstructing police, and two counts of first-degree retail fraud. Instead, on Friday, Hillman entered a plea in Midland County Circuit Court to amended charges of resisting and obstructing and second-degree retail fraud.
Hillman is scheduled to be sentenced in Midland County Circuit Court on Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. before Judge Stephen Karas.
Midland County Assistant Prosecutor Courtney Driscoll offered Hillman a plea deal in April that included dropping two of the four felonies before pleading guilty to the misdemeanor charges. Hillman refused and asked for a jury trial.
Midland Police Public Information Officer Brenon Warren said Hillman was with another woman and two boys at the Walmart at 910 Joe Mann Blvd. on Oct. 1 at about 5:09 p.m. Her other three are not cited.
Walmart loss prevention personnel notified police that Hillman pretended to use the store’s scan-and-go application for 93 items valued at more than $1,300. Items include clothing, miscellaneous goods, toys, etc.
Hillman reportedly loaded up two carts and went to the self-checkout register, acting as if he had just scanned a scan-and-go application on his cell phone and made the payment. He then attempted to leave the store, but was stopped by loss prevention.
Warren said Hillman was taken to a loss prevention office and when police arrived, Hillman began acting strange and making strange statements before being pulled away from officers. After the second officer arrived, Hillman continued to resist, and the officers fired their taping guns, Warren said. During the struggle, Hillman and one of the officers fell. Warren said the suspect continued to struggle and tried to use both hands to control the officer’s Taser.
Hillman and the injured police officer were evaluated by EMS. Hillman was jailed and released on $5,000 bail.