Deerfield manslaughter defendant faces preliminary exam

By Melissa Burnor

Very little new information was revealed March 9 at Jacky Bell’s preliminary examination. The 44-year old Clayton man has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Nathan Vance on  Sept. 22, 2015.
Vance died as a result of an alleged fist fight outside of the Deer Run Apartments on East River Street in the village of Deerfield.
“There will be another time to argue the facts of this case,” public defender Rodney Leon said.
The defense does not deny that Bell took part in a fight between the defendant and Vance. They claim that Bell acted in self-defense in an altercation where Vance was the instigator.
Bell’s attorney also asked for  a bond of $5,000 or lower or even a personal recognizance bond.
His original bond of $50,000 had been reduced to $30,000 at his arraignment by Judge Jonathan Poer.
Schaedler said she also had concerns about lowering the bond, but did lower his bond to $20,000. Bell will be arraigned in Lenawee County circuit Court on March 23.

For the complete story, please see the March 16, 2016, edition of The Advance.

Manslaughter charge authorized in Deerfield death

An individual has turned himself in to authorities after a felony charge of manslaughter was authorized by the Lenawee County Prosecutor Friday in the death of Nathan Vance, 33, in Deerfield last September.

According to Michigan State Police F/Lt. Tony Cuevas, Jacky Bell, 44, Clayton, turned himself in Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, and was lodged at the Lenawee County Jail. He was then arraigned via video technology from the jail on Wednesday.
Police and medical crews responded to the Deer Run Apartments  on East River Street on Sept. 22 to an assault. Vance later died after being flown to ProMedica Toledo Hospital from injuries sustained in a fight  where he allegedly received several punches to his head and body, according to police.
At the time of the incident police said the pair had been fighting over a woman who lived in Deerfield with whom Vance had two children. The suspect at the time was identified as the woman’s current boyfriend. His name was

Jacky Bell
Jacky Bell

released after his arraignment.

Man dies after altercation in Deerfield

UPDATED STORY
DEERFIELD – Michigan State Police have identified 33-year old Nathan Vance of Adrian as the person who died after he and another man got into a fight at the Deer Run Apartment Complex in East River Street in the village of Deerfield Tuesday afternoon.
According to a press release issued Friday afternoon from F/Lt. Tony Cuevas of the Michigan state Police the incident that occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m. Tuesday began as a verbal disagreement due to the relationship both man had with a female subject who lives in the apartments. The verbal disagreement reportedly led to a physical altercation in the complex parking lot.
The press release said Vance allegedly received several punches to the head and body which resulted in him losing consciousness. The other combatant, a 44-year-old man from Toledo, Ohio, allegedly suffered minor injuries during the fight.
Vance stopped breathing on the scene, was resuscitated by paramedics and transported by ambulance to ProMedica Bixby Hospital in Adrian. Cuevas said, due to the severity of his injuries, he was transported by helicopter to ProMedica Toledo Hospital, where he later died.
The investigation is still-ongoing pending autopsy and witness interviews. When complete, a report will be submitted to the Lenawee County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Anyone having information about this incident is urged to contact Trooper Bill Strouse Jr. of the Monroe Post at 734-242-3500.
Troopers from the Monroe Post were assisted by deputies from the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office, Deerfield Fire Department and Lenawee Community Ambulance Service.

ORIGINAL STORY:
DEERFIELD – A man has died as a result of an alleged physical altercation between himself and another individual Tuesday in the village of Deerfield. The Michigan State Police along with Lenawee County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area of the Deer Run Apartments on East River Street at approximately 12:20 p.m. Sept. 22 to a report of a man who was down on the ground. The man was taken to the hospital. It is unknown at this time when he did die.
Lt. Tony Cuevas said Friday afternoon he was waiting for some additional investigative information before issuing a press release which he expects to do sometime this afternoon. The man has not been identified. The Deerfield Township Fire Department was also dispatched to the scene.