Two suspects are facing charges following separate incidents over the weekend involving the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
The first took place on Saturday at approximately 4:35 a.m. when Livingston County deputies responded to assist deputies from the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office who were actively pursuing a suspected drunk driver in a 2014 Jeep Cherokee.
“The suspect had been observed passed out in the vehicle on the roadway,” stated a press release. “When the driver was awoken, he fled at a high rate of speed. The pursuit entered Livingston County in southern Hamburg Township where members from the Hamburg Township Police Department as well as members from the Green Oak Township Police Department attempted to assist. Washtenaw County eventually lost sight of the vehicle and the pursuit was terminated.”
A deputy from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office was near Pettysville Road and M36 when authorities say he observed the suspect vehicle driving at a high rate of speed while making a reckless turn onto Pettysville Road. While the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle using his emergency lights and siren, the vehicle continued to flee at a high rate of speed, refusing to pull over and continuing to drive in a reckless manner, including running civilian cars off the roadway, almost rear-ending civilian cars, running stop signs as well as traveling well above the speed limit.
The suspect vehicle then entered the Village of Pinckney, still driving at a high rate of speed, before turning onto Mill Street and going to the dead end. Once at the dead end, the suspect vehicle left the roadway and traveled through yards and hit a fire hydrant. Due to the dangerous driving a P.I.T. was performed. The vehicle continued to travel, at which point another deputy from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office positioned his vehicle in front of the suspect vehicle to stop it. The suspect then turned into the front of the patrol car striking it. The suspect vehicle then became inoperable, at which point the driver exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. He was subsequently arrested after a brief foot pursuit without further incident.
There were no injuries to anybody during the incident, although the suspect vehicle as well as the two Livingston County Sheriff’s Office vehicles sustained functional damage.
A search of the vehicle located an open alcohol bottle as well as a pneumatic handgun that closely resembled a Glock handgun.
The driver was identified as a 28-year-old Pinckney man who was currently on parole from the Department of Corrections for having been a felon in possession of a firearm. He was lodged at the Livingston County jail on charges of Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, transporting open intoxicants, Fleeing/Eluding, Resisting/Obstructing as well as having a detainer from the Michigan Department of Corrections placed on him.
Charges are being sought from the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office as well as the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office.
Deputies were assisted by members from the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Hamburg Township Police Department, Pinckney Police Department as well as Central Dispatch for both Livingston County and Washtenaw County.
The second incident occurred Sunday at approximately 12:40 p.m. when deputies from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the Preserve Golf Course in Tyrone Township for a destruction of property complaint. The golf course reported a Grey Ford Fusion driving on the course. The vehicle was also reported to have driven through the yards of nearby homes.
Upon arriving in the area, the suspect vehicle was spotted leaving the subdivision. A traffic stop was attempted at Lee Jones and Nimphie Roads. The suspect did not stop for deputies and continued onto Old US-23 before eventually entering onto southbound US-23.
Deputies were able to stop the vehicle on US-23 north of Highland Road by boxing it in. The driver, a 34-year-old Fenton man, was taken into custody after a brief struggle.
Possible drug use by the suspect is being investigated. One deputy was treated for a minor injury sustained during the arrest. The suspect was lodged in the Livingston County Jail for Operating Under the Influence of Drugs, Fleeing and Eluding, and Resisting and Obstructing charges.
Deputies were assisted on scene by the Fenton City Police Department.
