BRIGHTON TWP. (WWJ) — A Redford Township man is expected to face multiple charges after allegedly stealing a dog, fleeing police and crashing a stolen tree trimming truck into a tree, all while high on meth.
Around 4:30 p.m. Saturday Michigan State Police troopers with the Brighton Post were on the lookout for a large tree trimming truck pulling a woodchipper and driving erratically near Brighton Township.
MSP officials say the truck had been stolen and previously was chased by Redford Township Police. Officers terminated that chase after the suspect hit a police car, according to MSP.
As troopers were searching for the truck in Livingston County, 911 dispatch received multiple calls from citizens who said the suspect was driving recklessly. He had allegedly drive off the road and hit multiple mailboxes.
Callers also said he nearly hit several other cars head-on.
Dispatch told troopers that the suspect was possibly armed with a handgun, as he had allegedly robbed a man of his dog prior to the chase.
The driver of the stolen truck, later to be identified as a 35-year-old Redford Township man, eventually crashed into a tree at the corner of Hilton Road and Old US-23 in Brighton Township and ran from the scene.
An MSP K-9 unit found him hiding inside a large Rubbermaid container behind a nearby house, officials said. He was arrested without further incident.
The man told troopers he had ingested meth or another unknown drug while operating the stolen vehicle and admitted to fleeing from police earlier in the day.
The man also admitted to stealing the dog at gunpoint, but said the dog jumped out of the vehicle while he was driving. The dog has not been located.
The man, whose name has not been released, pending review of charges, will be held at the Livingston County Jail once he is medically cleared, according to MSP. His condition following the crash was not known.
The suspect is expected to be charged with OWI and stealing a vehicle, among other possible charges.
It was not immediately clear where or when the tree trimming truck was stolen.
Authorities are asking anyone who knows something about the crime to call Trooper Jackson Winters at (810) 227-1051.