Police ID 2 killed when Holland chase ends in crash

HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) — Holland police have released the names of the two men who were killed when an early Sunday morning police chase ended in a crash.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as 26-year-old Alfredo Mojica Majin of Holland. The passenger was identified as 21-year-old Bryan Mojica of Holland. The Holland Department of Public Safety said they were brothers.

Around 2:25 a.m., an officer was sent to the speedway gas station at 800 Washington Ave. after receiving reports about a fight. While the officer was walking to the scene, he saw a silver-colored vehicle speed off westbound on 33rd Street without its headlights on. At the same time, multiple gunshots were heard, which the officer believed came from the vehicle.

The officer chased the vehicle, still with its headlights off, until it crashed into a tree west of the city limits where 32nd Street becomes South Shore Drive. Holland DPS said Majin and Mojica died at the scene.

Driving with no headlights and at a high speed were factors in the crash, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department said.

In an email to News 8 Monday, Holland DPS Capt. Robert Buursma said that based on the information available so far, the officer’s chase “appears to clearly fall within our department Policy on Police Pursuits.”

Officers found a pistol in the vehicle after the crash and four spent casings in the grass just off the road on 33rd Street, west of Speedway, HDPS said. No shooting victims were found and it’s not clear what the suspects were shooting at, police said.

There is a long-running debate in law enforcement about the risks of high-speed chases. Michigan State Police amended its policy earlier this year to only allow pursuits if there is probable cause that the driver or occupant of the pursued vehicle has committed a life-threatening or violent felony.

The policy change was partially informed by a national study that determined 30% of pursuits end in crashes and between 5% and 17% end with someone injured or dead.

Chases beginning with gunfire are rare. More than 90%, in fact, begin because of simple traffic violations. More than 37% end with charges related to a stolen vehicle, suspended or unlicensed driving and drunken driving, while only about half a percent of result in attempted murder charges.

The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office is handling the crash investigation, while Holland DPS is investigating the shooting. Anyone with information was asked to call HDPS at 616.355.1150, email policetips@cityofholland.com or call Silent Observer at 1.877.887.4536.

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