Marshall man faces several charges following multi-county chase

An Eaton County Sheriff's deputy was treated for non-life-threatening injuries following a  multi-county police pursuit that began near Battle Creek and ended in southern Eaton County on Tuesday, officials said.
An Eaton County Sheriff's deputy was treated for non-life-threatening injuries following a multi-county police pursuit that began near Battle Creek and ended in southern Eaton County on Tuesday, officials said.

A Marshall man accused of leading police on a multi-county chase Tuesday now faces several criminal charges in connection with the situation.

Michael Bilbrey, 45, was arraigned in Barry County District Court Wednesday on three felony counts of third-degree fleeing a police officer, four felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two misdemeanor counts of failure to stop after a collision, a misdemeanor count of reckless driving, a misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended/revoked/denied license and a misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated.

Bilbrey is due back in Barry County District Court for a probable cause conference Feb. 1. He is also expected to face criminal charges in Calhoun County and Eaton County, officials said.

The 45-year-old is accused of stealing a flatbed truck in Calhoun County and leading police on a chase into Barry County and eventually into Eaton County via Lawrence Highway, the Eaton County and Calhoun County sheriff's offices said in statements. Eaton County deputies deployed Stop Sticks that flattened all four tires of the suspect's vehicle.

Regardless, the fleeing driver continued on toward Charlotte and tried to ram a police vehicle, according to the release.

"We decided we needed to act and end the pursuit before it entered the City of Charlotte ...," Eaton County officials said in their release. "Eaton County Sheriff's Deputies and a Sergeant used their patrol vehicles to disable the fleeing vehicle. Because the truck is much larger than our patrol vehicles, this made it very difficult for us to stop the truck."

An Eaton County Sheriff's deputy was treated for non-life-threatening injuries following a  multi-county police pursuit that began near Battle Creek and ended in southern Eaton County on Tuesday, officials said.
An Eaton County Sheriff's deputy was treated for non-life-threatening injuries following a multi-county police pursuit that began near Battle Creek and ended in southern Eaton County on Tuesday, officials said.

The incident began about 11:19 a.m. at Gardner Brothers Lawn and Landscape in the 400 block of North 24th Street in Springfield for a stolen vehicle complaint, according to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office.

Staff at the business reported that a man stole a work truck from their property. While deputies were checking the area for the vehicle, the owner located his truck parked at another nearby business with the suspect still inside. There was a physical altercation between the two and the suspect was removed from the truck. While the owner was on the line with 911 dispatchers, the suspect entered the unoccupied business where the vehicle was located, stole another truck that was parked in the garage, crashed through a closed garage door and left the scene, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office said.

Battle Creek police received reports that a vehicle matching the description of the most recent stolen truck had struck two vehicles on M-37 in Bedford Township and continued northbound into Barry County.

Barry County dispatchers said the truck struck multiple vehicles in that county as well, and a  Calhoun County deputy who saw the truck attempted a traffic stop. The suspect initially stopped, however then drove in reverse in attempt to strike the deputy’s vehicle. The deputy was able to avoid a collision, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office said.

Barry County deputies took over the pursuit before the chase ended in Eaton County.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, Eaton County Sheriff’s Office and the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority.

Ken Palmer contributed to this report

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Marshall man faces several charges following multi-county chase