Lidgerwood, N.D. (KFGO) - A man considered dangerous is back in the State Hospital after his arrest in southeastern, North Dakota.
Thirty-nine-year-old Michael Skroch of Lidgerwood was arrested after crashing a motorcycle in a wildlife preserve following a police chase that hit speeds of 85 miles-an-hour.
Sargeant County Sheriff Travis Paeper says Skroch, who he believes has mental health issues, threatened a person at a church and started a crucifix on fire. Paeper says Skroch also threatened customers of the bar and slashed tires on cars in Geneseo.
"When this call came in, obviously we were aware of who we were dealing with," Paeper says. "So, we got ahold of Richland County [Sheriff's Office]. The minute Richland County heard the name, they sent everybody they had. One of the sergeants of the [North Dakota Highway] Patrol in Fargo came down along with a trooper out of Wahpeton, and Ransom County [Sheriff's Office]. And Marshall County [Sheriff's Office] was made aware just because we were so close to the South Dakota border. So, he's an individual we don't take lightly, he's dangerous, and we were going to make sure we had enough law enforcement in the area."
Paeper says Skroch had been released from the state hospital days before for threatening people with a sword and barricading himself in a home.
He's facing nine felony and misdemeanor charges.