Motorist faces two felonies for fleeing, assaulting police officers
A Detroit man is charged with two felonies after Ferndale police say he refused to pull over for police and assaulted officers who were forced to pull him from his vehicle.
Christopher Williams, 23, is free on $1,100 cash bond and had to appear for a video conference hearing in Ferndale 43rd District Court on Thursday.
Police said they were investigating possible larcenies from vehicles early March 2 on streets near Ferndale High School.
A man ran from officers when they tried to approach him. Police said they chased the man on foot but he got away.
“While checking to see if there were any larcenies from autos, officers noticed a white Chevy Malibu circling in the area and thought maybe he had something to do with the guy who fled on foot,” said Ferndale Detective Brendan Moore. “They had noticed the car parked in the lot at the high school at 4 a.m.”
Police said they tried to stop Williams in the white car as they followed him on West Marshall Street and then on Republic Avenue near the city’s west border.
Williams was not speeding, police said, but he wouldn’t pull over.
“An officer had to pull his car in front of (Williams’ vehicle) to get him to stop,” Moore said.
Officers told him to put his hands outside the driver’s side window.
Williams complied, but kept pulling his hands back inside his car and reaching for an area near his hip, police said.
He was ordered to get out of the car, but refused to get out.
Officers feared Williams had a weapon and they grabbed him to pull him from his vehicle.
“During the struggle he was punching at the two officers,” Moore said. “He kicked one of the officers in the chest four times.”
Police said they finally got Williams out of the vehicle, handcuffed him and took him to the police station for booking.
Williams refused to tell police what he was doing at high school, Moore said, and was uncooperative.
The suspect is currently on probation for assault and a misdemeanor breaking and entering conviction in Southfield, police said.
In Ferndale he is charged with fourth-degree fleeing and a count of assaulting police. Both charges are two-year felonies.
Williams was ordered Thursday to return to Ferndale court for a preliminary examination at 2 p.m. March 18.