Man Charged With Killing Lansing Firefighter Sent To Trial

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - A man accused of intentionally striking a 35-year-old Lansing firefighter with his pickup truck has been ordered to trial on a murder charge and other crimes.

A judge heard testimony from witnesses Thursday after attorneys signed off on an expert's report that found 23-year-old Grant Taylor is competent. He has a history of mental illness.

Firefighter Dennis Rodeman was struck and killed in September while in a street collecting donations for the annual "Fill The Boot" fundraising campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the International Association of Fire Fighters.

A witness, Jeff Town, said Rodeman and Taylor spoke before Taylor became "very agitated" and drove away. Police say he returned and deliberately hit Rodeman, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, with his pickup. Rodeman later died at the hospital.

Taylor told officers during an interview that he expressed his anger with firefighters holding up traffic and that their response to his frustrations didn't satisfy him.

Grant faces up to life in prison if convicted as charged. A trial date has not yet been set.

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