MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office provided more details on the lengthy police chase that happened on Monday, stemming from a home invasion and carjacking.
Thomas Edward Tackett, 52, from Fort Gratiot, was arrested and is facing 13 charges.
The chase started on Oct. 6 in Harrison Township and continued across Macomb County.
Previous coverage --> St. Clair County man arrested after home invasion, carjacking, multi-jurisdiction pursuit
Detectives are still working on finding out why he was in Macomb County in the first place. The initial police report on Tackett was a homeowner telling dispatch on Monday that a man was in their backyard drinking from a hose.
Timeline
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference on Oct. 9 and broke down what allegedly happened on Oct. 6:
12:32 p.m.
The sheriff’s office received a call from a homeowner saying a person was in their backyard on Jefferson Avenue in Harrison Township, drinking from a hose.
Deputies responded to the area and met Tackett on Jefferson Avenue. He had a duffel bag and claimed he was homeless and was planning on heading back to Port Huron. He didn’t want help from the sheriff’s office, so the deputy cleared the call.
About 10 minutes later, a Harrison Township homeowner flagged down the same deputy, saying someone had just broken into their home and a handgun was taken.
Through the information the deputy received, he believed Tackett was the suspect in the home invasion.
12:53 p.m.
Deputies found Tackett on Metropolitan Parkway and questioned him. The sheriff’s office said Tackett wouldn’t let the deputies pat him down and then ran off.
Deputies ran after Tackett and notified local school districts to go on lockdown since they believed Tackett was armed and dangerous.
1:01 p.m.
The sheriff’s office received a report of an armed carjacking on Coleridge Avenue in Harrison Township.
Deputies then found the suspected stolen car on Metropolitan Parkway about three minutes after receiving the report, and a police chase began.
Tackett cut across the median and drove into a grassy area and bike path. Officials said deputies lost sight due to Tackett driving at a high speed and dust picking up from the road.
Deputies spotted Tackett with the stolen car again on Jefferson Avenue, which led to another chase but was then terminated.
1:14 p.m.
Tackett was spotted on Elmira Street in St. Clair Shores by residents.
1:18 p.m.
Tackett allegedly tries to carjack another person in St. Clair Shores near Briarcliff Street.
1:19 p.m.
Dispatch received calls about someone trying to break into multiple homes on Timberidge Street in St. Clair Shores.
Tackett allegedly kicked in the door of one house and entered. The homeowner then fired two shots at him, missing him. This led to Tackett going back to the stolen car and heading back on Timberidge Street.
Officials said Tackett ended up at the St. Clair Shores Golf Course, where deputies then began chasing him through the course. Dashcam video shows deputy patrol cars and the suspect driving through the golf course.
He eventually left the golf course, then traveled on Harper, driving over 95 mph, officials said.
Tackett allegedly continued the chase through Mt. Clemens and eventually headed northbound on Gratiot Avenue.
Clinton Township police officers began chasing after him, as well. Officials said speeds were clocked at over 100 mph as he was driving on Gratiot Avenue.
He turned eastbound on Hall Road and then went westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-94. The chase continued as police and the suspect drove on the opposite side of the freeway, on the shoulder.
The chase was eventually called off due to safety reasons.
1:32 p.m.
Tackett then allegedly left the stolen car near I-94 and Crocker Boulevard and walked towards Reimold Street in Harrison Township.
He then allegedly tried to get into three homes in the area. He was unsuccessful until he allegedly got into one home and got into a confrontation with the homeowner while demanding the keys to their car.
The homeowner and Tackett fought, which led to Tackett threatening to stab the homeowner with a fork. Tackett got injured and ran away from the home.
He then went to another home on Reimold Street and was confronted by another homeowner. Tackett allegedly demanded this homeowner the keys to their car, but the homeowner threatened to shoot him. Tackett ran away.
As Tackett left the house, sheriff’s deputies found him. They then tackled Tackett and took him into custody.
Deputies release videos of chase
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office released several videos of deputies chasing after Tackett across multiple townships, through a golf course and the opposite side of a freeway before he was ultimately arrested.
You can watch those videos here --> Videos show home invasion suspect driving across golf course, opposite side of I-94 before arrest
Charges, priors
Officials said Tackett was out on parole when he was arrested.
The sheriff’s office said Tackett had a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1995. Here’s a look at Tackett’s most recent arrests:
- Fleeing and eluding in Clinton Township in 2017
- Two home invasion arrests: One in Clinton Township, and the other was handled by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office
- Home invasion arrest in St. Clair County in 2018
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office issued a 13-count warrant against Tackett, including multiple charges of home invasion, fleeing and eluding, resisting police and reckless driving.
“This defendant’s alleged actions represent an alarming and dangerous pattern of criminal behavior,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido. “The charges are extremely serious and reflect a complete disregard for the safety and well-being of our community. My office will pursue these charges to the fullest extent of the law to ensure the public is protected and justice is served.”
Tackett was arraigned on Oct. 9 in Clinton Township and denied bond.