Man with multiple felony warrants arrested after 45-minute-long police pursuit in Monroe County

FRENCHTOWN TOWNSHIP (WWJ) A man with multiple felony warrants and wanted in a Retail Fraud investigation was arrested after a 45-minute-long police pursuit in Monroe County.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said Michigan State Police were conducting a Retail Fraud investigation on Saturday (10/12) around 7:20 p.m. at a business in Frenchtown Township—about 25 miles north of Toledo, Ohio. The investigation led troopers to an address within the community, where they found a grey Chevrolet Equinox. When troopers tried to communicate with the driver, the Equinox fled. A driver and vehicle description was broadcast to other responding police units in the area.

A short time later, Monroe County Sheriff Deputy Austin Graham found the suspect traveling within Oakridge Estates Mobile Home in Monroe Township—about seven miles south of Frenchtown Township. When they found the Equinox; the driver was identified as a subject wanted on numerous felony warrants, as well as the Retail Fraud. When deputies tried to stop the car; the suspect kept driving, leading to a pursuit.

According to the sheriff’s office; the pursuit lasted nearly 45 minutes, traveling through Monroe Township, LaSalle Township, and Ida Township. It returned to Monroe Township, as the suspect “circled the area” around S. Dixie Highway, between Albain Road and East Dunbar. The suspect headed north to the Kroger Plaza at South Monroe Street and Jones Avenue, before returning to East Dunbar and the Oakridge Estates Mobile Home Park. Deputies tried several times to deploy stop sticks during the pursuit, flattening all four tires and slowing down the Equinox. The car eventually came to a stop after the suspect made several laps around the mobile home park, on Laurel Drive, where troopers took him into custody.

Troopers turned the driver, a 56-year-old Monroe man, over to Michigan State Police custody. Charges were also sought for Fleeing & Eluding. His name is being withheld pending arraignment.

Deputy Austin Graham of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Uniformed Services Division is investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact 734-240-7758.