Sterling Heights man pleads guilty to assaulting federal officers in chaotic arrest

WARREN, Mich. – A Sterling Heights man has pleaded guilty to aggravated assaults on federal officers during an arrest that ended with a car inside a hotel room.

Background: ‘It looked like a movie’ -- US Marshals injured in chaotic Warren arrest

The charges stem from an arrest at a Days Inn near 14 Mile Road in Warren in March 2024. According to court documents, 52-year-old Carl Emerson Travis was wanted on several outstanding warrants from across the state, including stalking, assault, domestic violence and more. U.S. Marshals were alerted that he was at the Days Inn and attempted to arrest him. Agents said he tried to escape in his car, dragging several federal agents and nearly striking others with the vehicle.

A parked car was pushed through the wall of a room at the inn that reportedly had two children inside.

Shots were fired, but no one was hit.

Travis was taken into custody and indicted on seven counts of assaulting federal officers. He pleaded guilty on Wednesday, June 4.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 15. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.