STERLING HEIGHTS (WWJ) - The chief of police in Sterling Heights says it's a miracle there were no serious injuries as a result of two high-speed chases early Tuesday.
Sterling Heights Police Chief Dale Dwojakowski said the ending may have been different if it hasn't happened during spring break.
"This pursuit through Sterling Heights, the Durango chasing the Ford Fusion, went through several school zones," he told reporters at a news conference Friday. "A junior high, located on 17 Mile Road, Davis Junior High...That at that time of the morning, there would've been hundreds of parents dropping their kids off at school, buses on the road, and it is a miracle that it was spring break and there was no kids in schools, because this could've easily turned into a deadly police chase."
He said speeds reached around 100 miles per hour.
While the shooting was initially thought to be road rage-related, Dwojakowski said an investigation found the suspects were involved in an earlier altercation at a condo in Utica, which led to the shooting and chases.
Marcino Cartier Lattner, 25, of Westland, is facing charges of unlawful driving away of an auto, fleeing and eluding, assault and malicious destruction of police property. Police said he crashed a Sterling Heights police car on I-94 near 12 Mile after ditching his vehicle and stealing the cruiser (seen in the dash cam video).
"It shows you the mindset," Dwojakowski said. "Who thinks that it's a good idea to get into a police car with lights and sirens and then start another high-speed chase. It just tells you this guy was not going to stop until the car was disabled and there was no other way to escape."
Also in custody is 30-year-old Anthony Dwayne Brown of St. Clair Shores, who is facing fleeing and eluding charges after he and a companion led police on a chase from Sterling Heights to Detroit.
Police continue to search for a fourth suspect who escaped on foot in Detroit.
