Man arrested, charged after 26-mile chase in Van Buren Township, officials say

Suspect has been charged with unlawful imprisonment, fleeing and alluding, obstruction, domestic violence, and reckless driving

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Local 4 is learning more about a violent incident in Van Buren Township and the lengthy police chase that followed.

Carl Travis was arrested Friday night after fleeing by car for more than 26 miles and then trying to get away on foot.

You can hear and see what took place in the police video above, including the 911 call and more from a very dangerous turn of events.

Travis was arraigned in the 34th District Court Monday (Aug. 8), he tried to see if the judge would grant him a lower bond, but she stuck to the $500,000 she set, taking into consideration a personal protection order the victim, in the case, had against him and the 26-mile long chase he led police on Friday.

“He says he’s going to shoot her in the face,” a man said in the video.

On Friday night, the urgent call for help came from The Waverly on the Lake Apartments in Van Buren Township.

“Please hurry up, man, please,” the man said.

Moments earlier, a man who police identified as Travis showed up at an apartment his ex-wife was at. He attempted to drag her by her hair to his car, prompting the call and chase.

“There we go, police here, thank you, God,” the man said.

Van Buren Township police responded quickly as Travis jumped into a SUV and took off, which prompted the chase.

Travis can be seen in the video player above weaving in-and-out of traffic on eastbound I-94. The chase went on for about 26 miles all the way into Detroit at high-speed rates at times. Travis eventually crashed the vehicle and took off running.

Body cam video picked up where the dashboard cam left off, as Travis was now on foot.

At one point, the officer chasing after Travis tases him, and Travis kept on going.

According to investigators, the woman Travis attempted to abduct had a protection order out against him.

Judge Lisa Martin set bond at $500,000.

“I mean, why is my bond that high?” Travis said.

Travis has been charged with unlawful imprisonment, fleeing and alluding, obstruction, domestic violence and reckless driving.


About the Authors

Pamela Osborne is thrilled to be back home at the station she grew up watching! You can watch her on Local 4 News Sundays and weeknights. Pamela joined the WDIV News Team in February 2022, after working at stations in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service.

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