First responders honored for efforts in Detroit Amber Alert rescue

DETROIT – Members of the Detroit Fire Department were recognized Tuesday for their treatment and hospital transport of three people injured in a crash, including a 2-year-old child who was abducted prompting an Amber Alert.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Police chase ends after 2-year-old taken prompting Amber Alert; child safe, 2 in custody

Detroit firefighters Robert Massey, Ron Jones and Nick Patterson were honored for their speedy treatment of 2-year-old Sondra Renee.

“I have been to scenes where kids were found in trees or other people's yards from being ejected,” Jones said. “We were preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.”

The chase, which reached speeds of 100 mph, went by the fire house where members of Engine 30 were getting ready.

“He drove right past us, we saw them, saw the girl in the back,” Massey said. “We were getting prepared.”

After the chase ended in a crash, the first responders moved in and took control of the scene.

“The cop had just pulled her out of the car, she was hysterical,” Patterson said. “I went to my father mode, I’ve got two daughters, and I was just worried about her. Just parent mode, show some compassion and get her a teddy bear to get her to open up to us, and she finally did.”

What happened

A 42-year-old Detroit man is accused of kidnapping a young child and leading police on a chase that reached speeds of 100 mph.

Grady Barrett is accused of kidnapping 2-year-old Sondra Renee from the Detroit home of her mother's relative Aug. 1. An Amber Alert was issued, and Barrett is accused of leading a chase involving Monroe County sheriff's deputies, Detroit Police Department officers, Michigan State Police troopers and Wayne County sheriff's deputies.

Police tried to stop Barrett several times during the chase, and he is accused of trying to strike an MSP vehicle.

He crashed around 9:45 a.m. near the intersection of Seven Mile Road and Meyers Street, police said.. Police took him into custody, and the child was found safe.

Barrett is charged with third-degree fleeing and eluding, felonious assault and fourth-degree child abuse.

Dashcam video shows chase

The video comes from a city of Monroe police car and shows the first few moments of the chase, when an officer sees the passenger of a pickup looking back. The video shows the driver was initially unsure what to do.

You can watch the video below.

The Monroe police officer spotted Grady Barrett's pickup on I-275 North and radioed for backup. He turned on his lights and siren to try to pull the pickup truck over.

"He's not pulling over, not speeding off yet," the officer said.

That quickly changed as a Michigan State Police trooper took the lead and tried to force the pickup over. But after some cat and mouse, the pickup was able to get ahead as speeds soared into the triple digits.

The chase continued on I-94, I-96 and the Southfield Freeway before moving to surface streets.

A trooper finally spun the pickup out of control off 7 Mile Road onto Meyers Road.

Sondra Renee, 2, was rescued from the crashed pickup. She was not in a car seat.

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office has the warrant and is reviewing it regarding two people who were arrested after the chase. Nobody is expected to be arraigned Wednesday.

More on Grady Barrett

According to the Michigan Department of Corrections, Barrett, 42, skipped out on probation in November 2012 in Wayne County.

Barrette went to prison in 1995 for assault and battery, carrying a concealed weapon and attempting to receive stolen property.

Barrett allegedly took 2-year-old Sondra Renee at knifepoint from her aunt's home on Detroit’s west side. Police said the child belongs to Barrett's girlfriend and he is not the biological parent.

A machete was later seen sitting on the dashboard of Barrett's vehicle after the chase.

"They engaged in a pursuit that lasted quite some time, about 50 minutes, through several cities and counties," Detroit Police Deputy Chief David LeValley said.

Barrett was injured in the crash and taken to a hospital under arrest. A second person in the vehicle was taken into custody and the child was recovered safe.

 

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About the Authors:

Nick joined the Local 4 team in February of 2015. Prior to that he spent 6 years in Sacramento covering a long list of big stories including wildfires and earthquakes. Raised in Sterling Heights, he is no stranger to the deep history and pride Detroit has to offer.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.