MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – A man driving a U-Haul van led Macomb County Sheriff deputies on a chase Thursday night after, deputies say, he allegedly stole car parts from a vehicle parked at a used-car dealership on Gratiot Avenue in Mount Clemens.
Dominic Flynn, 28, of Clinton Township, faces several charges including larceny from a motor vehicle, assault with a dangerous weapon, fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing arrest, and possession of analogues after deputies say he struck a patrol car while trying to get away.
A person who lives near the Auto-Bright dealership called police after seeing a U-Haul truck in the lot about 11 p.m. Thursday night.
"In the middle of the night you don't normally hear banging and stuff, and that's what I heard, and I got suspicious," said Michael Benjamin, who called 911.
When deputies arrived at the dealership, the driver of the U-Haul fled, hitting one of the patrol cars.
"He stole the hood, a fender, interior parts, and probably pretty much about $2,000 worth of damage," said Daniel Renusch, owner of Auto-Bright.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Flynn raced down Gratiot Avenue in the van at speeds ranging from 75 to 100 miles per hour. He ran a red light at Harington Street and continued south on Gratiot Avenue to 15 Mile Road with police vehicles in pursuit.
Driver knocks on door, offers $500 for place to hide
He turned onto Village Drive where the van left the roadway. He attempted to drive between housing units before jumping from the vehicle and fleeing on foot. A call from a resident on Lipke Street informed law enforcement that a man had knocked on a door there and offered $500 if the resident would let him in.
"When you say you've seen it all, you can never say that in this career because the next day somebody else is just gonna amaze ya," said Sheriff Anthony Wickersham.
Clinton Township police officers joined Sheriff deputies in the foot pursuit. They found the suspect crouched in the back seat of a vehicle parked on Lipke Street in Clinton Township.
He allegedly continued to fight apprehension and deputies used a Taser-like weapon to get him to comply. He was arrested and allegedly was in possession of prescription drugs and "an unknown white 'rock-like' substance," according to the Sheriff's Office.
He had been stealing car parts from a 2004 Ford Escape that was parked in the parking lot of the auto dealership on Gratiot Avenue.
Flynn was given a $30,000 bond and is being held in the Macomb County Jail. His next scheduled court date is 1:30 p.m. March 19.