GRAND FORKS, N.D. - A charge of terrorizing against Harlan Enger, the Northwood, N.D., man who rammed his Geo Metro into the police chief's four-wheel-drive squad pickup, was reduced to reckless endangerment, also a felony, in a court appearance Wednesday in Grand Forks.
Enger, 58, also was charged with drunken driving and simple assault in the incident Tuesday that led to his arrest.
He remains in the Grand Forks County jail under a total bond of $10,500, a jail spokeswoman said. His preliminary hearing was set for March 9.
Northwood Police Chief Keith Prosser said that as he attempted to stop Enger just before 2 p.m. Tuesday on the north side of town, Enger rammed his small car twice into Prosser's squad, then drove off into town. As Prosser followed, Enger swung around and headed right back at him. Deciding Enger needed to be stopped, Prosser didn't try to avoid the collision and instead tried to disable the car -- and did.
Enger got only bumps and bruises treated at the Northwood hospital before being transported to jail.
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His family told the Herald they are concerned that he has mental health problems that aren't getting treated.
"I just wanted people to know the reason why my dad did this," said one of Enger's four children, Tara Wolfe. "So they don't think my dad is this bad person. He really is a good guy. He's just mentally ill right now."
They feel frustrated at being unable to get him long-term treatment, Wolfe said.
Her mother recently moved out of the Enger's home to live with Wolfe in Northwood because of Enger's recent problems, which include losing his job, Wolfe said.
On Sunday, they called police because Enger had been threatening to kill himself, Wolfe said. They tried to get a local physician to commit Enger into a treatment center but failed, Wolfe said.
On Tuesday, Enger came in to the grocery store where Wolfe works, bran-dishing a razor blade and threatening to kill himself, Wolfe said. That led to the police call that resulted in his arrest, she said.
