Groveland Twp. Police are still seeking a 41-year-old Ortonville man who fled from police in his black GMC pickup. Genesee County deputies had followed the truck after noticing it suspiciously lingering near a vacant home around 3 a.m. March 2.
Michigan State Police troopers from the Groveland post headed to Dixie Highway in an attempt to block the suspect, who was coming from Wildwood and Grange Hall roads, when they were informed the pursuit had been terminated.Heading south on Wildwood near Dixie Highway, Groveland troopers noticed a black pickup with a headlight out traveling northbound on Dixie Highway.
Troopers followed the vehicle as it turned into an apartment complex drive. After noticing the patrol car, the suspect, who had fled from Genesee County deputies, sped past the cruiser southbound on Dort Highway, traveling 70 to 90 mph through 55 mph zones.
Officers gave chase from Oakhill Road to Dixie Highway, over muddy back roads through Groveland Township where the suspect drove about 70 mph through 25 mph zones, eventually reaching Hadley Road in Brandon Township.
By the time the truck reached M-15 again, the engine was heavily smoking, and came to a stop in the middle of the northbound lane. Genesee County deputies, who had picked up the chase, pursued the suspect as he bailed out of the vehicle, running east. Oakland County deputies and K-9 officer Ronnie arrived on the scene within seconds, following the suspect to a brush-filled area.
Although a free search was conducted for another 45 minutes, the suspect was not located.
According to identification information obtained from the suspect’s home, police describe the eluder as a 41-year-old white male, five feet 10 inches tall, weighing 155 pounds, driving a black 1988 GMC GMT-400 pickup.
Although the license plates and driver’s license of the suspect had expired, no warrants had been issued at the time of the chase, and no known reason for the suspect to flee.