HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A judge in Madison County has mandated a face-to-face mental health assessment for a man accused of fatally shooting a Huntsville police officer.

On Monday, Judge Alison Austin issued an order requiring Juan Laws to undergo a mental health evaluation at the Madison County Jail to determine his competency to stand trial.

Laws faces a capital murder charge for the killing of Huntsville Police Officer Garrett Crumby in March 2023. Additionally, he has been charged with first-degree domestic violence.

The request for the evaluation was prompted by Laws’ defense team, who claimed their client exhibited “delusional” remarks and similar conduct while in custody.

The judge’s order specifies that the Alabama Department of Mental Health will conduct the evaluation at the jail and that a comprehensive report should be submitted to the court following the assessment.

On top of the question of whether Laws is currently fit to stand trial, the evaluation is also ordered to look at his mental condition at the time of the crimes he is charged with, and if he suffered from any mental disease or defect at that time.

Austin said the criminal proceedings against Laws are on hold until the evaluation is complete and the court receives the Department of Mental Health’s report.