(WWJ) Michigan State Police are searching for a Wisconsin man who allegedly rammed a patrol car, sending a trooper to the hospital.
The situation unfolded late Wednesday morning, as a trooper from the Michigan State Police Cadillac Post was assisting the MSP Seventh District Fugitive Team locate a wanted suspect.
The trooper stopped an older model Dodge pickup on Maple Street in McBain, which is near Cadillac, with two men inside.
The driver was asked to get out of the truck and speak with the Fugitive Team. While they were talking, the trooper was working to identify the passenger inside the truck.
The passenger refused to provide any identification, police said, and when the trooper asked the passenger to take the keys out of the ignition, the passenger slid over to the driver side and fled the scene.
A chase began, MSP said, and the suspect rammed the patrol vehicle twice — the second time causing the police car to swerve into a ditch, and inuring the trooper. The suspect sped away, and the Dodge truck was found abandoned on Fourth Street in Marion.
Patrol car disabled.MSP
The trooper was treated at the Cadillac Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and released.
The suspect has since been identified as 36-year-old Jonah Vaughn. Vaughn has a Wisconsin driver's license and is also the suspect in an earlier auto theft complaint, police said.
Police shared two photos of Vaughn, hoping someone in the public has seen him. MSP noted he has a tattoo above his right eye and a piercing his right upper cheek. He also has a large neck tattoo that's not seen in the photos.
Jonah Vaughn.MSP
He was believed to be in the Harrison area later Wednesday.
Anyone who sees this wanted man or who has any information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Gaylord Area Regional Dispatch at 1-800-824-7053.
