VBT man arrested after threatening to kill police officers, two judges

After calling the Van Buren Township Dispatch Center with threats to kill police officers and two 34th District Court judges, James Bernard Lang, 55, was arrested without incident at his VBT home on Oct. 21.
VBT Director of Public Safety Gregory Laurain said the township resident, identifying himself as Lang, called the dispatch center with the threats several times around 3 a.m. on Oct. 20.
Lang began threating police and judges over a recorded line within the dispatch center. He threatened to kill VBT police officers and two judges at the court several times during a series of calls to dispatchers and supervisory personnel on duty at the time.
Director Laurain said Lang has a history of past violence.
Lang was charged by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office with one count of False Report of Threat of Terrorism (a 20-year felony) and one count of Habitual Offender-Fourth Offense Notice (a five-to-15-year felony.
The case was reassigned from the 34th District Court and Lang was arraigned by 29th District Court Judge Laura Mack of the City of Wayne. His bond was set at $100,000/10% with GPS tethering if released and mandatory alcohol testing. The next court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 8 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Mack.
The booking photo shows injuries that Lang acquired well before he was taken into custody when he was struck by a car in the City of Wayne and was transported to Beaumont Wayne for treatment, said VBT Detective Lieutenant Charles Bazzy.