Fender faces felony charge for assault with knife

Kalamazoo sophomore Amy Sue Fender faces felony and misdemeanor charges
stemming from a recent incident in which she allegedly threatened
several CMU students with a large butcher knife, court documents say.

Fender, 19, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, a
felony punishable by four years in prison and/or $2,000; and one
misdemeanor charge of being a minor in possession of alcohol.

The alleged incident occurred Aug. 27 at Lexington Ridge Apartments,
3700 E. Deerfield Road, where Fender lives.

According to court documents, Fender “did make an assault upon Matt
Butterfield and/or Ryan Schulte and/or Sean Rinke and/or Jessica
Rieffel with a dangerous weapon,” but without intent to commit murder
or cause great bodily harm less than murder.

Court records indicate attorney Gordon M. Bloem will defend Fender
during a one-hour preliminary hearing set for 10:30 a.m. Oct. 14 before
Judge Thomas A. Beale. Fender’s case was under examination last
Thursday in Isabella County District Court, 300 N. Main St.

“This is the real deal,” Bloem said Wednesday, adding that witnesses
will be presented at the hearing. However, he would not specify if the
defense will present any witnesses.

“The prosecution has the burden of proof,” he said.

Isabella County Sheriff Department records indicate several deputies
were dispatched to the scene on the Friday night in question “for a
report of a female who threatened several people with a kitchen knife.”

Reports show that an 8-inch butcher knife was seized by deputies
from Fender’s kitchen.

Reports also indicate that, while outside on the porch, an argument
ensued between Fender and a male subject named “Brandon” who were
fighting over a chair.

“After yelling between the people there she went inside her
apartment,” the reports state. “She came out a short time later and had
a large kitchen butcher knife in her hand.”

The report goes on to detail Fender waiving and pointing the knife
toward others, yelling “get the f— out of here.” St. Clair Shores
sophomore Sean Rinke then got behind and grabbed the knife from Fender
before taking her inside to calm down, reports indicate.

When asked if she knew why she was arrested, Fender told booking
officer Sonia Carten, “Someone may have seen me with a knife because I
had to scrape a decal off my car,” reports state.

Fender then mentioned something about cooking dinner and “appeared
to be intoxicated and not understand exactly what had occurred,”
reports state.

According to court documents, Fender had a blood alcohol content of
0.175.

Fender also is listed as an employee of Subway, according to court
documents filed Sept. 13.

Deputy Joe Chritz is listed as the victim/complainant, court
documents show. A warrant was issued for Fender’s arrest Aug. 28 with
bond set at 10 percent of $20,000.