Monroe man in custody after shooting at officers, multi-county pursuit
SPRINGPORT TWP. — A Monroe man is facing several criminal charges in connection with a multi-county police chase that involved exchange of gunfire with police.
The incident began early Tuesday morning in Branch County and the suspect, identified as a 39-year-old Monroe man, was apprehended later that evening about 50 miles away in Springport Township.
A news release from the Springport Township Police Department stated it received information that an armed male from Monroe had been involved in a vehicle pursuit in Branch County where he reportedly ran a deputy off the road and shot at him.
Around 7:30 p.m., the suspect was once again being pursued, this time by Calhoun County sheriff’s deputies, heading north into Albion. The deputies advised that the suspect had again fired at officers. No injuries were reported.
The pursuit entered the village of Springport, where the offender allegedly fired several more rounds at pursuing deputies. The chase then continued north into Eaton County.
After several attempts to end the chase, deputies deflated the tires on the fleeing vehicle using Stop Sticks. The vehicle became disabled in the 7000 block of 5-point Highway in Eaton County.
The suspect then fled on foot through several residential yards, police said, before he was eventually apprehended. Police reported finding a handgun, knives and brass knuckles on him and recovered two shotguns from inside his vehicle.
The man was lodged in the Calhoun County Jail late Tuesday on numerous assault and firearms charges. According to police, he is expected to face criminal charges in Jackson and Branch counties. In a separate release, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office stated the suspect was suicidal.
The chase involved numerous law enforcement agencies in Jackson, Ingham and Eaton counties. The suspect has a prior address on Genesee Road in Hillsdale County’s Litchfield Township, just south of the village of Homer.
The Calhoun County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was reviewing the police reports and was expected to file formal charges Wednesday. Once charges are official, the man is to be arraigned in district court.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Monroe man in custody after shooting at officers, multi-county pursuit
