Jerry Tommy Bell Case Posts:
Macomb commissioner had presence of mind to videotape 2nd sexual assault
Reports paint picture of Sept. 20 events involving Bell, Nard
Macomb Daily
December 16, 2021
Armed with a screwdriver, Jerry T. Bell raped a woman twice in the same night. But what the Warren resident didn’t know at the time was during the second incident, his victim was able to record the attack on her cellphone as documented evidence to later show to police and prosecutors.
“(O)nce the phone was on the table, Jerry again physically held her down and began to sexually assault her,” police wrote in a report.
She told officers “that she repeatedly told Jerry to stop and that she didn’t want to have sex with him, knowing it would be captured on video.”
Moments later, after Bell alternately threatened to harm the woman or take his own life, she was able to flee through the front door that had been left unlocked.
That’s the sum of what the victim, Michelle Nard, a member of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, told investigators about the kidnapping and sexual assault as spelled out in a series of reports obtained by The Macomb Daily under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Macomb Daily generally does not name victims of sexual assault, but Nard has publicly acknowledged it was her who was forcibly raped.
Bell was arrested and arraigned on six felony charges, but later released from jail after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges and sentenced to time served.
Bell, who is well known as an activist in Warren’s political circles, declined to comment Sunday. He said he has not been in contact with Nard, who he formerly described as being his fiancee, since the incident.
“I think this was a private matter that has since been resolved and I don’t wish to talk about it,” he said.
Likewise, Nard also did not wish to comment.
“This was an unfortunate personal matter that is over with,” Nard said.
Police reports show officers were called to Nard’s residence in south Warren in the early morning hours of Sept. 20, 2021.
Bell, who Nard said had been smoking marijuana, came to her place about 6 p.m. the night before. Nard had left the door unlocked, so Bell was able to let himself in, the reports state.
Almost as soon as he entered the house, Nard said Bell “began to argue and insult her by calling her names,” she told police. Nard said Bell continued to “antagonize” her for several hours.
Nard told police she was “scared” of Bell’s behavior and asked him to leave several times, according to reports. Those documents show Bell said he wouldn’t leave and demanded the two have sex. When Nard refused, Bell told her “at least” she should perform oral sex on him.
At one point, Bell chased Nard around a room, knocking over a chair and breaking its leg. Then Bell grabbed Nard, threw her on a bed, where he climbed on top of her. He was able to sexually assault her on the bed, reports said.
Police say after the assault, Bell lay on the bed next to her and again threatened to kill her if she tried to leave.
“(S)he continued to lay down next to Jerry, as she believed he would kill her, based on what he had already done to her,” investigators said in their report.
Nard said the two were on the bed for about an hour. She picked up her cellphone under the guise of emailing a friend but activated the camera function to record without Bell noticing, the reports state.
According to police reports, Bell then sexually assaulted her a second time. Then he walked into the kitchen.
“Once Jerry was out of sight, she stood up and ran to the front door where she opened it and fled the residence,” police wrote. As she continued to run, Bell yelled out that if any police officers showed up, he would shoot them.
Police found him a short time later on foot and arrested him near Lawrence and Timken avenues in the area of Nine Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue.
He previously told The Macomb Daily that he and Nard had been together for about four months and she became angry when he broke off the relationship. He said they did have consensual sex that day.
Bell, who works as a taxi driver and for the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office, was arraigned Oct. 1 on charges of criminal sexual conduct, extortion, assault with intent to great bodily harm, felonious assault and kidnapping. He also was charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic violence.
He entered a guilty plea in 37th District Court to misdemeanor charges of stalking and domestic violence. He received credit for the 43 days he served in Macomb County Jail and must undergo 52 weeks of batterers intervention counseling.
Nard spoke on Bell’s behalf at the sentencing, telling a judge that she did not feel threatened by him.
“I offered to do this for Mr. Bell because I believe he is a good person,” she said in court. “He had a bad moment, and it was a very unfortunate personal situation that I wish had never happened. I do want to offer this mercy to him because I do believe he will be a good person in society and that he will do the things that he needs to do.”
New reports in Bell case detailed
Videotape evidence of second sexual assault shown to police, prosecutors
The Macomb Daily
December 06, 2021
The 93 pages of police reports, search warrants and returns contained quite a few redactions.
Armed with a screwdriver, Jerry T. Bell raped a woman twice in the same night. But what the Warren resident didn’t know at the time was during the second incident, his victim was able to record the attack on her cellphone as documented evidence to later show to police and prosecutors.
“(O)nce the phone was on the table, Jerry again physically held her down and began to sexually assault her,” police wrote in a report.
She told officers “that she repeatedly told Jerry to stop and that she didn’t want to have sex with him, knowing it would be captured on video.”
Moments later, after Bell alternately threatened to harm the woman or take his own life, she was able to flee through the front door that had been left unlocked.
That’s the sum of what the victim, Michelle Nard, a member of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, told investigators about the kidnapping and sexual assault as spelled out in a series of reports
obtained by The Macomb Daily under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Macomb Daily generally does not name victims of sexual assault, but Nard has publicly acknowledged it was her who was forcibly raped.
Bell was arrested and arraigned on six felony charges, but later released from jail after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges and sentenced to time served.
Bell, who is well known as an activist in Warren’s political circles, declined to comment Sunday. He said he has not been in contact with Nard, who he formerly described as being his fiancee, since the incident.
“I think this was a private matter that has since been resolved and I don’t wish to talk about it,” he said.
Likewise, Nard also did not wish to comment.
“This was an unfortunate personal matter that is over with,” Nard said.
Police reports show officers were called to Nard’s residence in south Warren in the early morning hours of Sept. 20, 2021.
Bell, who Nard said had been smoking marijuana, came to her place about 6 p.m. the night before. Nard had left the door unlocked, so Bell was able to let himself in, the reports state.
Almost as soon as he entered the house, Nard said Bell “began to argue and insult her by calling her names,” she told police. Nard said Bell continued to “antagonize” her.
Nard told police she was “scared” of Bell’s behavior and asked him to leave several times, according to reports. Those documents show Bell said he wouldn’t leave and demanded the two have sex. When Nard refused, Bell told her “at least” she should perform oral sex on him.
At one point, Bell chased Nard around a room, knocking over a chair and breaking its leg. Then Bell grabbed Nard, threw her on a bed, where he climbed on top of her. He was able to sexually assault her on the bed, reports said.
Police say after the assault, Bell lay on the bed next to her and again threatened to kill her if she tried to leave. “(S)he continued to lay down next to Jerry, as she believed he would kill her, based on what he had already done to her,” investigators said in their report.
Nard said the two were on the bed for about an hour. She picked up her cellphone under the guise of emailing a friend but activated the camera function to record without Bell noticing, the reports state.
According to police reports, Bell then sexually assaulted her a second time. Then he walked into the kitchen.
“Once Jerry was out of sight, she stood up and ran to the front door where she opened it and fled the residence,” police wrote. As she continued to run, Bell yelled out that if any police officers showed up, he would shoot them.
Police found him a short time later on foot and arrested him near Lawrence and Timken avenues in the area of Nine Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue.
He previously told The Macomb Daily that he and Nard had been together for about four months and she became angry when he broke off the relationship. He said they did have consensual sex that day.
Bell, who works as a taxi driver and for the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office, was arraigned Oct. 1 on charges of criminal sexual conduct, extortion, assault with intent to great bodily harm, felonious assault and kidnapping. He also was charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic violence.
He entered a guilty plea in 37th District Court to misdemeanor charges of stalking and domestic violence. He received credit for the 43 days he served in Macomb County Jail and must undergo 52 weeks of batterers intervention counseling.
Nard spoke on Bell’s behalf at the sentencing, telling a judge that she did not feel threatened by him.
“I offered to do this for Mr. Bell because I believe he is a good person,” she said in court. “He had a bad moment, and it was a very unfortunate personal situation that I wish had never happened. I do want to offer this mercy to him because I do believe he will be a good person in society and that he will do the things that he needs to do.”
Warren activist released; pleads guilty to misdemeanors
Six felony charges dropped
Macomb Daily
November 14, 2021
Warren activist Jerry Tommie Bell was released from the Macomb County Jail on Friday after pleading guilty in 37th District Court to misdemeanor charges of stalking and domestic violence.
Bell was originally arraigned on Oct. 1, 2021, and charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic violence and six felony counts: two counts of criminal sexual conduct; extortion; assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation; felonious assault; and kidnapping. The charges stem from an alleged incident that reportedly occurred on Sept. 20, 2021, between Bell and Macomb County Commissioner Michelle Nard.
Bell received five years of reporting probation and is required to complete 52 weeks of batterers intervention counseling. He received credit for the 43 days he served in the Macomb County Jail. An existing no-contact order is to remain in place until Bell has completed 12 batterers intervention classes and shown proof of completion to the court.
“After the 12 classes have been completed, the no-contact order will be modified to no-hostile contact,” said Judge Michael Chupa. “That means you may talk to Ms. Nard and you may be in her presence, but you will not be permitted to threaten, harass, intimidate, insult, accuse, molest, harm, frighten or terrorize her for any reason. If you engage in an activity that I wouldn’t do to my spouse, I will not ignore that and I will lock you up for a good, long time.”
Prosecuting attorney Jennifer Janetsky told the court that Nard asked for the felony charges to be dropped and requested the specific terms and conditions included in the plea agreement. Bell said during Friday’s proceedings that he and Nard were engaged at the time of the Sept. 20 incident. Bell and Nard were opponents in the Warren City Council District 5 race during the 2019 election.
“There are only two people who have the ability to change the pattern that is happening in this relationship,” Janetsky said. “One is Ms. Nard, who has chosen mercy in this case over going forward. That was her choice, and I stood by that choice at her request. The other contributor to change here is Mr. Bell himself. It is essential that Mr. Bell avail himself of the counseling that is a part of this plea agreement so that he can learn to change the patterns of behavior that caused him to be violent to Ms. Nard and to other women as well.”
Nard spoke on Bell’s behalf Friday telling Judge Chupa that she did not feel threatened by him.
“I offered to do this for Mr. Bell because I believe he is a good person,” Nard said. “He had a bad moment, and it was a very unfortunate personal situation that I wish had never happened. I do want to offer this mercy to him because I do believe he will be a good person in society and that he will do the things that he needs to do.”
Nard told Judge Chupa that she had contacted Bell’s employers at the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s office and the taxi company for which he drives, and both indicated they were willing to allow Bell to resume his previous duties with them.
Nard asked that the personal protection order that is currently in place be lifted so that Bell may have contact with members of her family. Chupa said it was not in his power to lift that order.
“I have grandchildren that really like him and are missing him and want to talk to him,” Nard said.
When given the chance to speak to the court, Bell apologized to Nard and to the prosecutor and judge.
“I want to apologize to Ms. Nard for my behavior,” said Bell, who joined the proceedings via Zoom from the jail. “It was a difficult moment, and I just want to let her know that I am very sorry and that I want to do whatever I need to do to get the necessary counseling in order to move forward to be more productive, not only with Ms. Nard but in society.”
Bell was represented by Elisha Oakes from the Macomb County Public Defender’s office who, along with Janetsky, was also present via Zoom.
Chupa stated multiple times that he was not certain that Bell deserved the reduction in charges and commended Nard for her “grace and forgiveness.” The judge referenced letters written by Nard to him and to the prosecutor advocating for Bell.
“I don’t know how you came to be so lucky and how Ms. Nard came to be so kind,” Chupa said. “I can’t imagine the circumstance that would cause Ms. Nard to go through all of this to have multiple charges brought against you, and then have the grace and the kindness to write you a letter to the prosecutor and dismiss life offenses in favor of this plea bargain is a level of grace that I don’t know if I would ever have if, in fact, the original charges are supported by the facts.”
Because the two attorneys agreed to the plea bargain, Chupa said he would support it but indicated the terms of the agreement were not subject to change and that any violations of probation would not be tolerated.
“I expect you to live like the person Ms. Nard thinks you can be,” Chupa said. “I expect you to live like the person I require you to be. You got a deal here that I am not persuaded that you are entitled to.”
A preliminary exam had been scheduled for Nov. 23, which the plea deal renders unnecessary.
Bell arraigned on felony charges in Warren court
Macomb Daily, The (MI)
October 1, 2021
Former Warren City Council candidate and political gadfly Jerry T. Bell was arraigned in 37th District Court Friday morning on six felony counts and one misdemeanor charge.
Bell was arraigned before Judge Matthew Sabaugh on two counts of first degree- criminal sexual conduct; extortion; assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation; felonious assault; kidnapping; and domestic violence. Kidnapping is punishable by up to life in prison.
The charges stem from an alleged incident that occurred on Sept. 19 between Bell and Macomb County Commissioner Michelle Nard. The two were opponents in the 2019 Warren City Council race in District 5, but apparently had entered into a personal relationship afterward. Bell has introduced Nard as his fiancé at a Sept. 14 Warren City Council meeting.
Bell is charged as a "habitual offender, third offense" due to two charges brought against him in 1997 involving breaking and entering and auto theft.
Bell, who was represented by attorney Cecil St. Pierre at the arraignment but requested a public defender be provided by the court, stood mute and a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.
"I know these are serious charges brought against my client, but I do not believe these two charges from 1997, something that happened 24 years ago, should be used as some kind of character assessment," said St. Pierre, a former longtime council member and past president.
The judge set bond at $500,000 cash surety and ordered Bell be fitted with a tether if he is released on bond.
A no-contact order was issued to Bell on Thursday and Sabaugh reminded Bell he was not allowed to see, call, text, or write the alleged victim. A preliminary conference date was set for Oct. 12 in front of Judge Michael Chupa.
The Genesee County prosecutor's office was assigned the case because Macomb County prosecutor Peter Lucido recused himself due to the appearance of impropriety.
Assistant prosecuting attorney Jennifer Janetsky and St. Pierre both deferred to Sabaugh with regard to recommending bond as did Sgt. Daniel Bozek of the Warren Police Department. Sabaugh emphasized the charges against Bell were serious and asked legal counsel again for their opinions regarding bond.
"Any bond that keeps the community and Ms. Nard safe is acceptable to the prosecution," Janetsky finally offered.
Sabaugh called Nard to the front of the courtroom and asked for her thoughts on the matter.
"I do not feel Mr. Bell is a threat to the community or a threat to me," said Nard.
"You know what he's charged with, right?" said Sabaugh. "He's charged with a life offense and you don't mind if he has contact with you?"
"I don't mind if he calls me on the phone," said Nard. "I don't want to see him in person."
"Whatever relationship you had in the past, is that over?" said Sabaugh. "Can I ask that?"
Nard responded: "Yes it is."
Sabaugh reminded Nard the personal protection order that was issued to Bell on her behalf meant there should be no contact between the two.
St. Pierre alleged Nard and Bell had "gone on dates" on Sept. 25-27, and asked for a "reasonable bond" for his client.
"This is a very strange situation," said St. Pierre. "They've been out on dates and she's been calling him. We have the records from his cell phone to show this. This has been going on since the alleged incident so that's probably why she said she doesn't feel threatened since she has been going out on dates with Mr. Bell. As you say, these are very serious charges and quite frankly, I wouldn't date anybody that made those allegations against me."
Janetsky said she was not aware that Nard and Bell had allegedly been out on dates since the incident in question and said she would need to speak with Nard more about that.
"Regardless of if Mr. Bell's priors happened in 1997, prosecution has the authority to charge him as a habitual offender which increases, quite considerably, the potential penalties," said Sabaugh. "Based on the charges, the defendant is a dangerous person."
Shortly after the hearing, a statement was issued from Warren City Council members Patrick Green, Mindy Moore, Garry Watts and Jonathan Lafferty and city Treasurer Lorie Barnwell expressing concern about the events that led to Friday's court proceedings.
The first paragraph of the statement offered support to Nard and expressed "alarm" regarding the charges against Bell. The next three paragraphs of the same statement criticized Mayor James Fouts, of whom Bell is known as an ardent supporter, and demanded the mayor distance himself from Bell and "stop fraternizing, promoting, and using Jerry T. Bell as a political weapon."
Fouts called the statement "shameless" and "despicable."
"I condemn this city council for taking a serious situation like domestic abuse and making it into a political grandstanding thing so they can enhance themselves at the expense of the victim," said Fouts. "Right now, our sympathy should be with Michelle and all other people who have been affected by domestic violence."
The statement also alleged that upon his release from the Warren city jail last week, Bell met with Fouts in the mayor's office at City Hall. Fouts denies the meeting occurred and offered to have anyone review security video from the building to prove that Bell was not there.
Fouts said he knows both Bell and Nard, and that he endorsed Nard when she ran for a seat on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners.
"What I don't know is what happened between them the day of the alleged incident," the mayor said. "I like both of them and I'm saddened by this situation, but I abhor domestic violence and I would never support that."
Watts was in attendance at the proceedings as was District 5 City Councilman Eddie Kabacinski.
Warren resident Joel Vanderlinden, who was charged with allegedly assaulting Bell during a city council meeting in July, was in attendance and had his cell phone temporarily confiscated by court personnel after he attempted to capture a video of the proceedings. Attendees are not allowed to take photographs or record videos in court.
