Drag racing on Berkley streets leads to arrest

BERKLEY — A 19-year-old Detroit man was arrested in connection to a drag racing incident at 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, near Woodward Avenue and 12 Mile Road.

Berkley police arrested Aaron Bryant for allegedly taking part in drag racing.

According to the Berkley Public Safety Department, officers observed traffic on southbound Woodward and noticed numerous vehicles that appeared to be drag racing.

“This group of cars was about five or six cars all leaving that area and started accelerating from 13 Mile (Road) southbound,” Berkley Public Safety Detective Lt. Andrew Hadfield said. “At the point that they passed the officer was when this guy was leading the pack of cars.”

The lead vehicle, a black Honda, was seen traveling 81 miles per hour and when police attempted to pull it over, it instead fled the scene, Hadfield said.

“The driver began to flee, going through two red lights at 12 Mile and almost causing a collision with a vehicle,” he said.

Hadfield stated that the pursuit made its way to Brookline Street, where the vehicle struck the curb of the median. The suspect, Bryant, was not injured in the chase, police said.

“(This) partially disabled the car to the point the subject stopped and officers placed him under arrest,” Hadfield said.

Drag racing, according to Hadfield, tends to be an issue during the summer months, but it seems to be starting a little bit earlier this year.

Hadfield said the last couple of warm days in March led to a higher traffic volume and more incidents of drag racing.

“We’re just trying to educate drivers before something serious happens; one, it’s illegal, and then two, the extra enforcement that’s going to be out there due to noise problems and the drag racing and speeding that continues to occur,” Hadfield said.

Bryant was charged with third-degree fleeing and eluding, a felony that is punishable by up to five years in prison, and drag racing, a 90-day misdemeanor. He was arraigned March 14 in the 44th District Court and given a $50,000 personal bond.

Bryant’s next court date is a probable cause conference set for 10:16 a.m. Friday, March 22, at the 44th District Court. An attorney for Bryant, who requested a court-appointed attorney, was not listed on the court’s website before press time.