DETROIT (WWJ) – A murder suspect is in custody after leading Detroit police on a chase Tuesday, which saw him cut through the middle of a city park on Wednesday.
The chase ultimately came to an end when the suspect crashed his SUV into a minivan occupied by a family.
Deputy Chief Franklin Hayes says the suspect, whose name and age have not been released, then fled from the SUV and tried to carjack another SUV, but officers were able to get him out of the vehicle and arrest him before he fled again.
The arrest stems from two murders on Oct. 7, one of which was on the east side early that morning, then one on the west side about an hour later.
Citing an ongoing investigation, authorities did not release many details about the homicides, but WWJ reported on Oct. 7 a person was killed around 3:20 a.m. at a Clark gas station in the Brightmoor neighborhood, in the 21500 block of Fenkell Avenue.
Authorities said at the time that a man was found shot to death inside his Dodge Charger near 8 Mile and Gratiot about an hour earlier.
Officials said Wednesday officers with the Tactical Services Section spotted the suspect in the SUV – which is also linked to the previous murders, according to police – in the area of Plymouth and Evergreen on the west side.
Officers tried to pull the suspect over, but he fled, leading police on a chase throughout the city's west side.
Hayes said the suspect cut right through the middle of Stoepel Park – near Outer and Fenkell – before crashing into the minivan.
Officials said all people involved were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to make speedy recoveries.
Investigators recovered multiple spent casings from under the floorboards of the suspect's SUV, as well as a rifle on the floor under the passenger's seat, according to Cmdr. Ian Severy.
"Getting that off the street is important to maintain the safety of the city," Severy said.
Hayes said getting dangerous, violent criminals off the streets is a major focus of the department.
"Trigger-pullers, those that are committing violent crimes against residents here in the city, we will relentlessly pursue you," Hayes said.
