By Staff
ST. JOSEPH – A Dowagiac man hit a tree in Benton Township Tuesday night trying to elude Berrien County authorities.
Det. Sgt. Robert Boyce reported Wednesday that Nigel Shajuan Cooper, 23, of 218 Andrews St., Dowagiac, was not injured in the traffic crash and was arrested and lodged at the Berrien County Jail on numerous charges pending arraignment in Berrien County Trial Court.
Charges pending against Cooper included possession of heroin with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana, maintaining a drug vehicle, fleeing and eluding, driving on a suspended license, resisting and obstructing a police officer and a valid warrant for absconding from parole.
On Jan. 6 at about 7:30 p.m., deputies with the Berrien County Sheriff's Office narcotics unit were conducting surveillance in the 1400 block of Mall Drive when officers said they observed Cooper make several apparent illegal narcotics transactions.
Narcotics unit deputies relayed this information to Deputy Marc Hopkins of the sheriff's road patrol.
Hopkins attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Ford sport utility vehicle driven by Cooper.
Cooper, who was the sole occupant of this vehicle, fled at a high rate of speed, according to Boyce.
Pursuit took place on Mall Drive, Nickerson Avenue and Union Street.
During this pursuit, Cooper crashed into a tree in the 1800 block of Union Street.
Cooper attempted to flee the scene on foot, Boyce said, but was quickly apprehended by Hopkins and assisting officers from the Benton Township and St. Joseph Township police departments.
At the scene of the traffic crash, officers reported seizing approximately $1,100 worth of heroin and a small amount of marijuana from the interior of this Ford SUV.
Officers also confiscated $241 in U.S. currency from Cooper under Michigan's civil forfeiture law.
Benton Township Police Department is investigating the traffic crash.