SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – A suspected tire thief was arrested after allegedly attempting to evade police by swimming across a small pond.
It happened in Southfield early Tuesday, July 1. According to authorities, police received a 911 call just after 3 a.m. from a woman who reported seeing a group stealing tires from a Ford F-150 in an apartment complex parking lot near Franklin and 11 Mile roads.
The woman said the men drove south in a Chrysler Pacifica.
“Thieves use minivans to load and conceal car parts,” said Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren.
The suspects reportedly had rented the minivan, which was due to be returned Saturday, July 5.
The minivan was spotted by police on Telegraph Road, near 10 Mile Road. Police began to chase the minivan and during the pursuit, a stolen tire was reportedly thrown from the vehicle.
“It was their attempt to discard the evidence as they were fleeing our officers,” Barren said.
At one point, the minivan reportedly drove across several yards to avoid police on the road before driving southbound in the northbound lanes, where they struck a marked, fully-illuminated Southfield police cruiser head-on.
Two Southfield police officers were injured, but they are expected to be OK. Barren said they’re in good spirits.
After the crash, the driver of the minivan reportedly ran off and jumped into a pond. When he reached the other side of the pond, he was greeted by more police officers and jumped back into the pond and attempted to swim away.
Police were able to persuade him to leave the water and took him into custody.
A second person, identified as 51-year-old Prince Madison, was found inside the minivan and was also arrested.
Police said the suspected driver, 31-year-old Trachawn McCaa, and Madison have a history of prior felonies.
McCaa was charged with third-degree fleeing and eluding and larceny from a motor vehicle. His bond was set at $50,000.
Madison was charged with larceny from a motor vehicle and was given a $5,000 bond.
Both men are required to wear a GPS tether if they post bond.