Van Buren County, MI — A Michigan man who launched pipe bombs at police during a Fourth of July standoff has now been locked away for decades.
Morgan Scott Parish, 59, of Van Buren County, was sentenced Monday by Judge Kathleen Brickley to 29 years and 2 months to 37 years and 6 months in prison after a jury found him guilty of 18 felony counts tied to a violent July 4 attack on law enforcement.
The case stems from a standoff in Pine Grove Township on July 4, when deputies and a SWAT team from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a private property to serve Parish with an arrest warrant. That warrant was issued after Parish skipped a sentencing hearing in St. Joseph County for earlier drug and weapons charges connected to a June 7, 2024 road-rage incident that uncovered illegal firearms and methamphetamine.
Instead of surrendering, Parish barricaded himself inside a camper on the property and detonated a pipe bomb inside as deputies approached. Sheriff Daniel Abbott previously said Parish told negotiators he would not return to prison and threatened to kill officers at the scene.
After a SWAT team arrived, officers attempted to negotiate. When tear gas was deployed to force Parish out, he came out of the camper and threw a pipe bomb at officers, which exploded. Moments later, he threw a second pipe bomb, which also detonated near law enforcement.
A SWAT officer then fired less-lethal munitions, striking Parish twice and forcing his surrender. He was taken into custody alive and transported to a hospital. No officers were injured.
The 18 Felony Convictions
A jury convicted Parish in December on the following charges:
- 1 count of Terrorism
- 8 counts of Assault with Intent to Murder
- 3 counts of Possession of Explosive Devices (pipe bombs) with unlawful intent
- 3 counts of Possession of Molotov cocktails or other explosives
- 1 count of Possession of weapons and ammunition by a prohibited person
- 2 counts of Assaulting, Resisting, or Obstructing a Police Officer
Because Parish was a fourth-time habitual offender, the court applied sentencing enhancements, pushing his prison term to one of the longest allowed under Michigan law.
Judge Brickley also credited Parish with 212 days already served in jail since his July 2025 arrest.
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