FLINT -- After a distraught father jumped a courtroom railing and punched the man accused of killing his son last week, local authorities were quick to point out the short-staffed security in the county's courthouses. Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell and local judges called for more deputies to staff the courtrooms. "I don't have enough people," Pickell said. Metal detectors installed at Genesee Circuit and District courts in 1990 helped allay fears about weapons, such as guns and knives, making their way inside. But, as Pickell points out, emotions can't be checked at the front door. While there have been some security threats from high profile cases like gang trials, Pickell said most of the disturbances are smaller. Fights break out frequently in hallways, with family members pushing or shoving each other or threatening others. "This is life; this is what's going on in our courtrooms," he said. With the June 26 courtroom brawl, a video shows Alex W. Pace, whose son was shot to death in December, punching defendant Juanell Darrough. Police said Pace lost control when he saw Darrough smiling as he was brought into Flint District Judge Tracy Collier-Nix's courtroom. Only one deputy was in the courtroom, although the Flint police detective assigned to the case also was there. That type of staffing is fairly typical during court hearings. As a result of those issues, Pickell plans on putting more deputies in the courts, especially when there are high profile cases or <b>...</b>
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