DETROIT (WWJ) — A 20-year-old Detroit man involved in drag racing is among multiple people arrested over the weekend thanks to the help of Michigan State Police helicopters.
Just after midnight Sunday MSP officials say they were notified of a vehicle that had recently been seen drag racing on the city’s east side.
Troopers tried to stop the driver on westbound I-96 near Joy Road, but he sped away. MSP’s Trooper 3 aviation unit was able to follow the car north until it pulled into a garage on Puritan Avenue near Fielding.
Troopers arrested the man as he was getting out of the car. He was lodged at the Detroit Detention Center, pending prosecutor review.
“As the weather gets warmer we start to see reckless driving pick up.” First Lt. Mike Shaw said via X, formerly Twitter. “We are continuing to work with our local partners to make sure those drivers who put our community at risk are located and held accountable.”
MSP officials on Monday released details on three other cases involving aviation units, including the arrest of a man in a stolen pickup truck.
The chopper followed the suspect, who eventually made his way to a fast-food restaurant in Hamtramck. The pilot was able to guide ground troopers to the restaurant, where the 27-year-old Detroit man was taken into custody.
“After the suspect was handcuffed, troopers soon realized that the suspect had ordered and paid for food at the drive thru before the arrest. Troopers were able to get his food and allowed him to eat before lodging him,” officials said on X.
Charges are pending against the suspect, whose name was not released.
In another incident, a suspect was arrested after leading Detroit police on a high-speed chase and running after blowing a tire.
In a fourth incident, multiple suspects were arrested and a stolen U-Haul was recovered.
“Another busy weekend for our aviation unit. We are continuing to provide air support to our troopers on the ground and our local partners to make it safer for our community,” Shaw said.