Novi police arrest man for allegedly threatening judge and attorney

NOVI — After a 48-hour multistate search, police apprehended a New Hudson man July 7 who allegedly threatened on social media to kill his court-appointed attorney and a Novi district court judge.

The ordeal began when Jordan Worrall, 31, allegedly skipped his court date for a fleeing and eluding charge that was scheduled for the morning of July 5 in front of Judge Travis Reeds, of the 52-1 District Court in Novi. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said Worrall then began posting messages on social media threatening to kill Reeds and Worrall’s court-appointed attorney from Gracey Law Firm in Bloomfield Hills.

The mother of Worrall’s child reportedly contacted sheriff’s deputies to inform them of the threats. Deputies then informed Reeds, who then issued a warrant with a $1 million cash or surety bond for Worrall’s arrest.

Over the next 48 hours, law enforcement officers worked to apprehend Worrall, who the Sheriff’s Office said led them on several chases. On the afternoon of July 5, Worrall was seen driving his pickup truck through the courthouse parking lot on Grand River in Novi, according to a press release. Novi police then chased him through Wixom and Commerce Township before the pursuit ended in Milford, the release states.

The next day he was located in Adrian, and detectives contacted the local police department. Adrian police attempted to stop Worrall but were not able to do so, according to the press release. Officers from Lenawee and Monroe counties also attempted to stop him but ultimately terminated their pursuits, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office reported.

That night, the Sheriff’s Office said, Worrall was located on the Ohio side of the state line. Toledo police, along with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, reportedly were able to pursue him until he fled into Michigan, and they ended their pursuit.

Worrall was located again on the morning of July 7 after he was seen walking down Manistee Street in a Lyon Township mobile home park near Kent Lake Road and Grand River Avenue. However, he reportedly drove off before police arrived.

A couple of hours later, he was arrested by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team, which had tracked him to a location in Brighton.  However, according to the Sheriff’s Office, he didn’t go down without a fight. During what is described in the press release as a “short struggle,” Worrall allegedly managed to punch one of the detectives in the face several times, resulting in the detective suffering broken facial bones. The deputy was treated and released from a nearby hospital.

Worrall now faces two additional felony charges of making a false report or threat of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime, the Sheriff’s Office said. Detectives reportedly are also seeking charges for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

“This clearly unhinged and violent individual is thankfully in custody due to the dedicated work of a variety of agencies, especially our Fugitive Apprehension Team,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard stated in a press release. “I look forward to him being held fully accountable for his actions.”

According to court administrator Alexandra Black, Reeds said he is not able to give comment on active cases, per the Michigan code of judicial conduct.

Jalal Jamil Dallo, of Dallo Law in Bloomfield Hills, was appointed to replace the attorney from Gracey Law Firm as Worrall’s court-appointed counsel. When reached for comment, Dallo said he had just been appointed to the case July 7 and didn’t respond before press time to a request for further comment.

Gracey Law Firm declined to comment.

Novi police directed the media to the Sheriff’s Office for comment.

A bond violation hearing for Worrall in 52-1 District Court was scheduled for July 12, after press time.