DETROIT (WWJ) – A convicted felon is awaiting charges after striking multiple vehicles while trying to get around an unrelated crash scene and fleeing police Monday afternoon in Detroit.
The driver was found to be in possession of a gun, a loaded magazine and body armor.
It all unfolded in the noon hour in the area of the Southfield Freeway and Schoolcraft. Michigan State Police say they were called to the scene of two separate crashes blocking multiple lanes of the Southfield shortly after noon.
While troopers were investigating the initial scene, authorities say a black SUV was following a tow truck along the shoulder and passing stopped traffic.
As troopers went to speak to the reckless driver – later identified as a 36-year-old Detroit man – he sped up, tried to swerve around the tow truck and "rear-ended/side-swiped a courtesy patrol van" that was blocking the left lane for the initial crash investigation, MSP said.
Police say the driver of the SUV narrowly missed hitting the courtesy patrol worker who was near the rear of the van.
MSP released video of the incident, showing the driver try to squeeze between the patrol vehicle and another car.
The driver continued northbound on the Southfield, side-swiping another unrelated vehicle and ultimately crashing into a fence near Kendall Street.
That’s when the suspect got out of the SUV and fled east on foot down Kendall Street. Troopers arrested him a short time later without incident.
Police found a loaded ammo magazine on the suspect and a canine unit located a loaded handgun, MSP said. The man was also in possession of body armor.
Further investigation revealed the suspect is a convicted felon, but police did not disclose information about that conviction.
The suspect was being processed at the MSP Metro South Post Monday afternoon and was expected to be lodged at the Detroit Detention Center, pending an investigation report to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
MSP First Lt. Mike Shaw used the incident with the patrol vehicle to remind drivers of the state's "Move Over Law.""
While this suspect intentionally ran into the vehicles to flee police, I also noticed while reviewing video that a lot of drivers just don’t know what to do when they see a emergency vehicle with its lights activated." he said in a tweet.
"Please remember if an emergency vehicle is approaching you: Pull to the right of the road and stop. If you are approaching an emergency vehicle on the side of the road: Slow down and move over a lane if possible. If not, slow down and proceed with caution.
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