21-year-old man charged after armed standby, domestic assault in Chester Township
A 21-year-old man is facing charges of assault and domestic violence following a tense, hours-long standoff on Thursday that drew a massive law enforcement response.
CHESTER TWP. — A 21-year-old man is facing charges of assault and domestic violence following a tense, hours-long standoff on Thursday that drew a massive law enforcement response.
Maxumis Cody Bair was arraigned Friday, July 9, 2026, in 58th District Court before Judge Judith Mulder. He faces multiple felony charges, including assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or strangulation, assault with a dangerous weapon, and domestic violence.
Read More: Suspect in custody after standoff in Chester Township
A tense standoff
The incident unfolded at approximately 4:37 p.m. when Ottawa County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a home in the 4700 block of Sherman Street in Chester Township following a domestic assault report.
According to authorities, dispatchers learned that a male suspect was armed with a long gun and that at least one shot had been fired. Inside the residence, a pregnant woman, an 18-month-old infant, and a third adult female were forced to seek shelter while the armed suspect remained at large, possibly still inside the home.
The crisis triggered a rapid multi-agency mobilization.
Shortly after 6 p.m., tactical members of the OCSO Critical Response Team successfully breached the residence, made contact with the three barricaded individuals, and evacuated them to safety.
Medical personnel assessed the victims' injuries at the scene. While the extent of their injuries is still being evaluated, officials confirmed they are not believed to be life-threatening.
With the victims safe, police launched a manhunt for Bair, whose whereabouts were temporarily unknown. Authorities warned the public that he was considered armed and dangerous.
The breakthrough came just after 8 p.m. when a vigilant citizen spotted a suspicious male running from the area, several miles away from the initial scene. Muskegon County Sheriff's deputies flooded the area and took Bair into custody without further incident. He was uninjured during the arrest.
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Current status
Bair was transferred to Ottawa County deputies and lodged at the Ottawa County Jail. Following his arraignment, Judge Mulder set his bond at $75,000 cash/surety. He remains in custody.
Law enforcement officials urge anyone with additional information regarding this incident to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office or submit an anonymous tip through Silent Observer at 877-88-SILENT (745368) or via mosotips.com.
— Submitted by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
