A Westland police officer narrowly escaped injury last week as a suspect drove from the scene of a crime, according to police reports.
Officers responded to a report of an attempted car theft at about 2:20 a.m. April 11. Upon arriving at the scene in the 35000 block of Hunter Avenue officers were alerted to a nearby vehicle that might have been involved in the incident.
As officers approached the vehicle, the driver attempted to flee the area and crashed the car into multiple garages causing serious property damage to several properties. When one of the responding officers exited his vehicle, the suspect drove the fleeing vehicle directly in the path of the officer, according to police reports of the incident. The officer was forced to immediately retreat to avoid being struck by the oncoming car. The fleeing vehicle struck the driver’s side door of the patrol vehicle where the responding officer had initially been standing.
Another officer in the area observed the suspect vehicle, a stolen white Kia Optima, and attempted to stop the car. The driver refused to stop and led officers on a pursuit that ended in the area of Ford and Central City Parkway where the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck a light pole.
Responding officers were able to apprehend all of the suspects involved including two adults and four juveniles. The driver of the suspect vehicle, a 15-year-old female Detroit resident, was arrested after a short foot pursuit and transported to the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility. The remaining juveniles, a 12- year-old female Detroit resident and a 13-year-old male Detroit resident were released to the custody of their parents and criminal complaints against each were forwarded to the Wayne County Juvenile Court.
James Hayes, an 18-year-old Detroit resident, was arraigned by Judge Mark McConnell on a felony charge of receiving and concealing stolen property. Hayes was issued a $10,000 personal bond and must be fitted with a GPS tether. Hayes was ordered to appear back at the 18th District Court on April 25th for a probable cause conference.
Kahari Thomas, an 18-year-old Detroit resident, was also arraigned by McConnell on a felony charge of receiving and concealing stolen property. Thomas was issued $10,000 personal bond and must be fitted with a GPS tether. Thomas was ordered to appear back at the 18th District Court on April 25 for a probable cause conference.
