Former prison escapee with long criminal history leads police on 100 mph chase

Robbin Gough free after being allowed to walk out of hospital

LIVONIA, Mich. – A man with a long history of crime was allowed to walk free from a hospital after leading police on two separate high-speed chases, the second of which ended in a crash.

The Department of Corrections wanted Robbin Gough, 30, locked up, but three Metro Detroit police departments let him walk right out of a hospital.

The developments began July 13, when an air conditioning unit was stolen from a Livonia Home Depot store.

"It's just never-ending," store clerk Lula Evans said. "I don't understand why people do it, but it just seems like it's just continuous."

Gough had already drawn the attention of security officials when he loaded a $400 air conditioning unit onto his cart. Security cameras zoomed in on him before he walked right out the door and into his getaway car.

Gough's car drove right past a Livonia police squad car, which followed briefly before calling off the pursuit when the car drove into heavy traffic. They did get the license plate number of the getaway car.

"He wanted to go back to jail so he would have a place to live," a customer said.

Gough has already escaped from prison in Lapeer once before. He's a parole absconder getting out in June, but he went right back to retail fraud.

Gough has multiple fraud convictions on his record, along with fleeing and assault on a police officer.

Nearby police agencies were notified of the incident, and two days after Livonia police chased him, Gough was pulled over by Redford police. During the traffic stop, Gough took off and led Reford police on a 100 mph chase.

Gough led Redford police into Detroit, where both Redford and Detroit police cars followed him. The chase ended with Gough crashing near Plymouth and Evergreen roads in Detroit.

Gough was taken to Sanai Grace Hospital, where he was simply discharged.

Law enforcement officials said a police agency dropped the ball and let Gough free. Authorities said somebody along the way should have put a hold on Gough at the hospital so he would have been arrested.

Detroit police said they were the last ones to have him, but they're blaming Redford police. Livonia police said they don't want to blame anyone. They just want Gough off the streets.

Anyone who sees Gough should call police.

Stay with ClickOnDetroit.com for updates.


About the Authors:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

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.