And friends of Zalsman, 26, said he and his girlfriend, 46-year-old Kelly Lawless, had a turbulent relationship that boiled over Friday when he allegedly assaulted her and she called police.
“There was a lot of fighting,” said David Cook, who allowed Zalsman and Lawless to live with him at his mobile home along 144th Avenue in Robinson Township for about two weeks. “They threw stuff at each other, pushed each other and, (when) this happened, they were arguing again.”
James Zalsman
Police said a deputy was talking with Zalsman about the alleged assault when he bolted about 3:15 p.m. During the chase, Zalsman circled back to the patrol car, hopped in and took off.
Following a 6-mile pursuit, at speeds of 30 to 75 mph, Zalsman was boxed in by four police cars near 120th Avenue and Lake Michigan Drive.
That’s where sheriff’s Lt. Mike Brookhouse suffered upper-body injuries when Zalsman allegedly used the patrol car to smash Brookhouse’s vehicle. Brookhouse was treated and released, authorities said.
Cook, who has known Zalsman for about two years, questioned the suspect’s sanity. He described Zalsman as angry and frustrated to be out of work.
“He needed a little help upstairs, but I didn’t think he was capable of stealing a police cruiser,” Cook said.
But state police records detail a lengthy criminal past, including two convictions for assaulting officers.
A January 2005 assault on a Holland officer earned Zalsman nine months in the Ottawa County Jail, records show. Nearly two years later, Zalsman was sentenced to a year for assaulting an Ottawa sheriff’s deputy.
Online state police records do not detail the crimes, showing only convictions and sentences.
Zalsman also has prior convictions for drug offenses, breaking and entering and domestic violence, records show.
County prosecutors on Saturday charged Zalsman with eight felonies, including two counts of assault on a police officer and three counts of malicious destruction of police property.
He also faces auto theft, fleeing, resisting and obstructing charges as well as a misdemeanor charge of domestic assault involving his girlfriend.
Zalsman is being held on a $100,000 bond pending arraignment Monday.
Cook said Zalsman floated in and out of contact. “He would disappear and then show up when he needed something,” Cook said.
Sandra Cook, who lives near her son David, said she was stunned by Friday’s events.
She said Zalsman was kind and respectful, addressing her as Mrs. Cook and helping with chores.
Zalsman raked leaves and chopped firewood, she said.
“He always appeared as a nice guy,” she said. “He had a good attitude. He’s not the type of person you would expect (to do this).”
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