City’s police conduct under review by Sheriff’s Office

Suspect was captured after fleeing officers

The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Sterling Heights police officers’ conduct during an arrest of a Roseville man following a vehicular chase last weekend.

Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said the Sterling Heights Police Department asked his office to review whether officers may have assaulted suspect Gary Eugene Young while arresting him Sunday near Gratiot Avenue and Interstate 94 after Young fled police in a vehicle from Sterling Heights.

“They’ve asked us to look at the conduct of the officers,” Wickersham said Friday. “If anything is there, we will present it to the prosecutor” for potential charges.

Sterling Heights Police Lt. Mario Bastianelli said Friday, “The Sheriff’s Department has been asked to help review this incident. This is common with any significant critical incident. This is an ongoing investigation and I can’t comment any further on this as of now.”

Up to 10 officers were involved in the incident, a Taser was deployed and a police dog was used, according to a source.

The incident took place began when Young was at his girlfriend’s residence in Sterling Heights, and he allegedly assaulted the woman and her teenage daughter, county Prosecutor Peter Lucido said Wednesday in a news release. Police arrived at the residence, which prompted Young to rum, enter a vehicle and flee.

Prosecutors said officers attempted a traffic stop where Young fled at a high rate of speed. He crashed his vehicle near Gratiot Avenue and Interstate 94, where he ran on foot, ignoring police commands, according to Lucido.

The prosecutor Young allegedly continued to resist officers until he was arrested.