Michael Davidson
Charges have been dropped against a Starkville man arrested in October 2017 for multiple charges after shooting at police officers responding to a welfare concern.
Michael Davidson was initially charged with burglary, two counts of assault on a police officer, two counts of shooting into a dwelling, breaking and entering, malicious mischief and aggravated assault on a police officer after officers responded to a call at Canterbury Townhouses in the 100 block of Old Mayhew Road in early October.
Davidson fired his gun into the direction of the officer on the scene. The other two counts of assault stem from Davidson fighting with two correctional officers when he was brought to the Oktibbeha County Jail.
Deputies were first called to the scene due to a welfare concern and were not able to make contact with Davidson upon arrival.
Deputies left the scene and a short time after leaving, a caller told the deputies they heard what sounded like a couple of gun shots.
During the October Circuit Court term, Judge Jim Kitchens dismissed all six counts following a mental evaluation.
According to officials with the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield, Davidson, a 36-year-old Army veteran, is not mentally competent to proceed legally. Doctors opined that Davidson suffers from a history of post traumatic stress disorder after serving several tours in the Middle East.
While the Mississippi State Hospital could treat Davidson for his psychosis, officials said a better option would be to get Davidson treatment through the United States Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals, due to their experience in treating PTSD in military veterans.
Court documents say the VA will not accept Davidson as a patient while criminal charges are pending, but will if the charges are dismissed.
The court opted to dismiss the charges in order to facilitate the “best possible treatment” for Davidson’s combat-related psychosis.