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HAZEL PARK — A high-speed chase that started in Hazel Park ended in Detroit, where two men were captured and a stolen vehicle was recovered.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. April 14. A Hazel Park officer was on patrol when he was notified of a stolen silver Mitsubishi traveling in the area. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Detroit several days earlier, on April 11. The owner is a Warren resident.
The officer later observed the vehicle heading southbound on Interstate 75 at Nine Mile Road, occupied by four male subjects. Upon verifying it was the same vehicle reported earlier, the officer attempted to stop them, but the suspect vehicle increased in speed and fled.
During the ensuing chase, the Hazel Park officer followed them southbound on I-75 to the exit at Seven Mile Road, at which point they proceeded onto the I-75 service drive at speeds reaching up to 90 miles per hour.
The suspect vehicle lost control at McNichols and Church roads, striking the curb. The car was disabled by the crash, and the four occupants jumped out and began fleeing on foot.
The Hazel Park officer called in backup, with police officers from Highland Park and a K-9 unit from the Michigan State Police arriving at the scene to assist in locating the subjects.
One suspect — a passenger in the stolen vehicle — was found hiding in an abandoned house and promptly taken into custody. Witnesses in the area helped guide the K-9 to the driver’s hiding place where he was laying low in some brush. He was arrested, as well.
At press time, the other two passengers remained at large.
Both of the captured suspects are juveniles, and as such, their names will not be disclosed.
The driver was identified as a 15-year-old Hamtramck man, while the passenger was identified as a 14-year-old Detroit man. Both were interviewed and allegedly admitted to finding the vehicle parked and running with unlocked doors. They also reportedly confessed to stealing the vehicle and driving it around for two days before their arrest.
Both were transported to juvenile detention. Their case was presented to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, which charged the driver with receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle and fleeing police, while the passenger was charged with receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle. Both were arraigned in juvenile court and remanded to Children’s Village until their next hearing.
“Our officers, with the assistance of the Highland Park Police and Michigan State Police, did an outstanding job in apprehending two of the suspects, with no one being injured,” said Hazel Park Police Chief William Hamel. “In this case, it appears this was a crime of opportunity. Don’t leave your vehicle running and unlocked.”
