A Benton Harbor fugitive is behind bars after leading police on a three-hour chase.
The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office reported that at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, an unnamed 38-year-old Benton Harbor man was arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase on 1-94, crashing his car and fleeing on foot in Van Buren County.
The pursuit began at about 3:30 a.m., when Michigan State Police troopers attempted to stop a 2015 Hyundai Sonata near mile marker 66 near Mattawan. While attempting to make contact with the driver, he fled. Van Buren deputies were in the area and initiated a pursuit, according to the police report.
While in pursuit, the driver reached speeds over 100 MPH, and tried to evade deputies by turning off all vehicle lights and weaving in and out of traffic. While trying to exit at mile marker 56 west of Paw Paw, he lost control of the vehicle, crashed and fled on foot. At that time, a K-9 unit and the Great Lakes Drone Team were called to assist.
At about 6:30 a.m., a state trooper was still patrolling the area when he noticed a suspicious man walking in the 41000 block of Red Arrow Highway. He was detained, transported to the hospital and then lodged in the Van Buren County Jail on charges of flee and elude, providing false information to law enforcement, operating with an expired license and fugitive arrest.
The man was wanted for misdemeanor assault in Berrien County, as well as had a criminal bench warrant for a conditional release violation.
