Funeral Set For Lansing Firefighter 'Deliberately' Struck While Collecting Money For Charity
EAST LANSING (WWJ/AP) - A funeral service is set for a Lansing firefighter who authorities say was deliberately struck by a pickup truck as he collected money for charity.
Visitation for 35-year-old Dennis Rodeman is Tuesday at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home in Lansing and a funeral is Wednesday at Michigan State University's Breslin Center in East Lansing.
Rodeman was hit Wednesday afternoon while participating in an annual Fill the Boot fundraising campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the International Association of Fire Fighters. Rodeman, whose wife was pregnant with their first child, later died at a hospital.
The seven-year veteran of the Lansing Fire Department also served in the United States Marine Corps, including a tour of duty in Iraq.
A 22-year-old Lansing man, Grant Taylor, was charged Thursday with murder, failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death and fleeing police. He was ordered held without bond. He's due back in court for a preliminary exam Sept. 23.
Lansing police Capt. Jim Kraus has said there was some type of traffic altercation before Rodeman was struck by Taylor's pickup truck; and investigators believe it was an intentional act.
According to reports, Taylor and Rodeman "exchanged words" before Taylor drove away, turned his truck around and struck Rodeman, who was standing in the center turn lane near Cedar Street and Jolly Road.
Taylor was arrested after a police chase.
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