Man who allegedly crashed through Shopko has pattern of violent attacks.

Krueger

Man who allgedly crashed through Shopko has pattern of violent attacks.

#OceanaCountyNews #Hart

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

HART — The 35-year-old Mears man who allegedly rammed the entrance of Shopko Wednesday afternoon crashing through merchandise in the store while customers and employees were inside, has a recent history of violent crimes that occurred in February of 2015 due to insanity.

Matthew Krueger signs paperwork in 78th District Court as Oceana County Sheriff’s Lt. Louis Herremans assists him.

Matthew Lawrence Krueger, of 2813 N. 34th Ave., was arrested Wednesday, May 3, 2017, by the Hart Police Department and lodged in the Oceana County Jail. He was arraigned Thursday, May 4, in 78th District Court on felony charges of malicious destruction of a building $20,000 or more and felonious assault (with his truck) and a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving.

“I was angry at the pharmacy clerk,” Krueger said when asked by a reporter in the courtroom why he crashed through Shopko.

The crash scene at Shopko Wednesday.
OCP photo by Rachel Gale

A May 15 preliminary conference is set in 78th District Court, and a preliminary exam is scheduled for next Monday, May 22.

Krueger was accused of burning down his family’s hobby barn in Golden Township resembling a 1950s style garage, destroying seven vehicles, and then going on a violent rampage in Grand Haven in February of 2015. He called in a bomb threat to the US Coast Guard station, rammed the gate, and assaulted a service member.

Krueger, who faced up to life in prison, was charged with four arson counts. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity in August of 2015 and remanded to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ann Arbor for treatment.

Krueger appeared in court Thursday without an attorney, and requested the court appoint one for him. He stood mute to the charges and entered a “not guilty” plea.

He faces up to 10 years in prison for the malicious destruction charge and four years for the assault charge. Reckless driving carries a 93-day maximum.

Krueger remains lodged in jail on a $100,000 cash/surety bond.

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