COLDWATER – A Centreville man has been arrested for his part in trying to get charges dropped against a Branch County man.

Branch County Prosecutor Zach Stempien says 31 year old Joseph Johnson was arrested over the weekend and charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice. The arrest was because Johnson was trying to get charges dropped against Travis McCann.

McCann is charged with discharging a firearm from a vehicle. The incident happened November 11, 2020 when he went to a house in the 900 block of West Colon Road where his wife was living with their children and another man. As McCann was leaving he shot at the house. No one was injured and McCann was arrested later in LaGrange County.

Officials with the LaGrange County Jail say they monitored calls McCann made and some were to Johnson. Stempien says as they investigated Johnson, they found he had a criminal record including charges of felonious assault and resisting arrest. One of the calls between the men had McCann ask Johnson to visit his wife to see if she would consider not pressing charges. Authorities say Johnson did go to the house, but McCann's wife did not come to the door.

Johnson is being held in the Branch County Jail with bond set at $10,000. A probable cause hearing is set for February 25 and a preliminary examination on March 3. 23 year old Alyssa Oswalt is also charged in the conspiracy after authorities monitored calls between her and McCann, who wanted Oswalt to contact his wife and see if she would drop the charges. McCann even offered Oswalt a $400 bribe. dMichigan State Police say Oswalt contacted McCann's wife by Facebook messenger.