Fugitive caught following high speed chase

By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer

PAW PAW – A Benton Harbor fugitive faces several charges after he attempted to flee from flee from authorities during a high speed chase and was eventually apprehended early Thursday morning, Oct. 6, according to a press release from the Van Buren Sheriff’s Office.
Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott said that at approximately 3:38 a.m., Michigan State Police (MSP) attempted to stop a vehicle near the 66-mile marker on Interstate 94 for excessive speed. While attempting to make contact with the driver/sole occupant, he fled from them. Van Buren Sheriff’s deputies were close by and initiated a pursuit on the fleeing vehicle. Abbott said the pursuit continued on I-94, reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. While being pursued, the suspect’s 2015 Hyundai Sonata continued to try and evade Sheriff’s deputies by turning off all its lights, blacking out, and weaving in and out of traffic.
Abbott said the vehicle attempted to exit I-94 at the 56-mile marker and lost control on the off ramp. After the traffic crash, the driver fled on foot. Abbott said a K-9 unit from Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety was called to assist, as well as a Great Lakes Drone team was utilized in efforts to locate and apprehend the fleeing suspect. At approximately 6:30 a.m. an MSP trooper patrolling the area, found a suspicious male walking in the 41000 block of Red Arrow Highway. The individual was detained and shortly after, it was determined the individual had provided a false name. He was later properly identified via photographs and tattoos. The suspect was transported to the hospital for medical treatment and was later transported to the Van Buren County Jail.
The individual faces charges of fleeing and eluding, providing false information to law enforcement and operating on an expired operator’s license. Abbot said the warrant for the individual was a misdemeanor for assault, issued from Berrien County, a criminal bench warrant for conditional release violation.
Assisting agencies included MSP, Paw Paw Police Department, Great Lakes Drone, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and the Mattawan Police Department.