03/24/2006

'Creator' locked up on felony charges

By
Record-Eagle staff writer

GRAYLING — God apparently is in the Crawford County clink.

Well, not really, Sheriff Kirk Wakefield said. It's just a Midland man who claims to be creator of the universe.

"As a matter of fact, he is crazy. Anyone in their right mind can see that," Wakefield said.

Michael Jesus Archangel, 60, is held in the Crawford County Jail in Grayling on felony charges with bonds totaling $105,000. He faces a possible life sentence for allegations of attempted murder, as well as assault and resisting police.

Charges stem from a Feb. 3 incident that began when Archangel was given a lift by a Grayling man. Darl Large stopped on Houghton Lake Road to offer Archangel a ride to town because his vehicle had broken down.

Inside Large's car, Archangel allegedly began to speak about Satan, angels and communists, and then threatened the good samaritan.

Large drove to Hanson Hills Recreation Area, where he works, and went inside for help and to call police, the sheriff said.

"Then (Archangel) pulled a knife on another guy and tells him he's going to kill him," Wakefield said.

Two deputies arrived and chased Archangel around the parking lot before they subdued him with pepper spray, wrestled him to the ground and placed him under arrest.

He was initially sent to a downstate U.S. Veterans Affairs hospital, but returned to Grayling for arraignment this month.

Court-appointed defense attorney Dawn LaCasse of Prudenville requested a psychological evaluation for Archangel, which is still pending. She declined to comment on the case.

The sheriff said he is already convinced that a mental health facility is the proper place for Archangel.

"He doesn't need to be in jail. A jail is not the place for crazy people," Wakefield said.

Archangel in July 1996 changed his name from Philip Jesse Silva in Midland County.

He is an announced 2008 U.S. presidential candidate and his personal Web site contains photographs of him holding swords and dressed in costume.

The site also has information about his various self-given holy names, a female model search, a bodyguard service and private investigations. Sprinkled throughout are angry references to political liberals, homosexuals, AIDS patients, abortion rights supporters, feminists and various government agencies.