By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
PAW PAW TWP. – A 25-year-old Decatur man, Dale Eugene Parish, was arrested early May 2 on fleeing and eluding charges, as well as several outstanding warrants, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.
Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott said that a Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office K-9 deputy attempted to make a traffic stop at approximately 3:15 a.m. on a pickup truck on County Road 358 near County Road 665, in Paw Paw Township for an equipment violation.
After the deputy activated his emergency lights and siren, the pickup truck continued driving. The suspect vehicle eventually sped up, traveling several miles down county roads before eventually turning offroad and driving along power lines near the village of Decatur. The truck was eventually found unoccupied down a two-track. Abbott said another suspicious vehicle was seen leaving the area where the suspect vehicle had been located and a traffic stop was made on that vehicle.
After contacting the occupants, one of the passengers was found to have numerous outstanding warrants for his arrest. The subject was interviewed and admitted to being the driver in the suspect truck and fleeing from the deputy. The suspect had gotten picked up trying to leave the area after abandoning the truck. The suspect was identified as Parish and was taken into custody without further incident. He was eventually transported to the Van Buren County Jail on charges of fleeing and eluding and the numerous outstanding warrants for his arrest.
Also assisting in the incident were the Pokagon Tribal Police Department, Decatur Police Department, and Michigan State Police.