By Staff
PAW PAW – On Dec. 26 at approximately 9:30 p.m., troopers from the Paw Paw Michigan State Police post attempted to stop a vehicle on Decatur Road, near Marcellus Highway in Cass County.
The driver of the vehicle was not wearing a seatbelt and was suspected of operating while intoxicated because the vehicle was weaving.
Siren and emergency lights were activated, but the suspect vehicle sped away.
Pursuit lasted for approximately six miles and reached speeds of more than 100 mph, state police reported.
Pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle lost control and skidded off the roadway through a T intersection.
Troopers ordered the suspect out of the vehicle at gunpoint, but the suspect refused to comply.
Troopers gained access to the vehicle by opening the driver's door.
As they did, the suspect was able to free his vehicle and attempted to flee by putting it in reverse.
The two troopers were being dragged by the open driver's door.
One trooper jumped in the vehicle on top of the driver in an attempt to gain control of the vehicle and stop it from dragging the second trooper.
The second officer was briefly dragged, then knocked to the ground by the vehicle. Its door passed over his head, narrowly missing him.
While trying to force the first trooper out of the vehicle, the suspect put the vehicle in drive and again attempted to flee the scene.
The first trooper was able to pull the suspect away from the steering wheel and partially into the back seat.
As the suspect and trooper continued to fight, the out-of-control vehicle left the roadway, striking landscape boulders on the roadside.
The vehicle then re-entered the roadway and continued approximately 30 yards before running off the roadway and crashing into a ditch approximately four feet deep.
The second trooper was able to recover and run to the vehicle, where he used a taser to subdue the suspect, who was taken into custody.
The suspect was on parole for fleeing and eluding and had a warrant as a parole absconder. He was also suspended and admitted to using meth, according to the state police.
Both troopers and the suspect were treated at a local hospital and released.
The suspect was charged by the Cass County Prosecutor's Office with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, two counts of resisting and obstructing, third-degree fleeing and eluding and driving on a suspended license.