Deputy, Suspect Wounded In Chase, Deputy's police car stolen
By Keith Matheny
Record-Eagle
03/16/03


East Jordan - A car-theft suspect and a Kalkaska County Sheriff's
deputy were each hospitalized with gunshot wounds, following a
gun battle that took place during a four-county, multi-vehicle
chase.

Charlevoix County Sheriff George T. Lasater said the deputy "took
buckshot to the face and chest." The deputy was wearing his bullet-
resistant vest, and apparently suffered only non-life threatening
injuries to his cheek, Lasater said. The deputy was taken to Munson
Medical Center in Traverse City. No word on his condition was available.

The deputy returned fire, shooting the male suspect in the upper leg
The names of both men were being withheld Saturday.

The suspect was arrested in downtown East Jordan, after police spun-out
his vehicle and surrounded it.

Following his arrest, the suspect was taken to Charlevoix Area Hospital.
Word on his condition was not immediately available, but Lasater said the
injury was not expected to be life-threatening.

Antrim County Sheriff's deputies were standing guard over the suspect at
the hospital, ready to take him for lodging at the Antrim County Jail in
Bellaire if he is released, Lasater said.

According to Sgt. Ray Hoffman of the Kalkaska County Sheriff's department,
the man first stole a car from the Williams Chevrolet Honda car dealership
in Traverse City Saturday afternoon. The stolen car was first spotted by 
police in the village of Kalkaska. Troopers from the Kalkaska post of the
Michigan State Police chased the stolen car to the Kalkaska and Antrim 
county line.

According to Hoffman, the man then got out and ditched the stolen car.

"The road came to a dead end in a wooded area in rural Antrim," Hoffman 
said. "There was no easy way in this maze to get out there." 

According to deputies, the man then ran a considerable distance through 
the woods and stole a blue pick-up truck. At this point, Hoffman said,
the police units were unable to continue following him because of the 
dead end end the woods.

Officers picked up the trail again in Mancelona, when they spotted the 
pick-up truck. Hoffman said at least one unit in the chase "wasn't able
to stay with him."

A Kalkaska deputy continued to pursue the pick-up three miles east of 
Alden, where according to Hoffman, the truck went into a snow bank.
The driver of the truck began shooting at the deputy, who was the only 
officer at the scene.

"The deputy happened to be in the right spot, but in a position where 
nobody was close enough to give immediate help," Hoffman said.

According to Hoffman, the deputy was shot and returned fire, hitting the
man. The man was able to recover and stole the deputy's police car, 
leaving the injured deputy behind.

The man traveled through Antrim County into East Jordan in southern
Charlevoix County. Chris Lusher, an employee at the 4-Corner Market
at Bridge and Water streets, said he witnessed the arrest.

"He came around the curve, and a state police Blazer hit him in the 
rear and spun him around," Lusher said. "Four police cars then pinned 
him - one in the back, two at the side and one in the front. They 
ripped him out of the car, threw him to the ground and cuffed him."

Lusher said it was a bizarre site in the quiet, peaceful community 
to see so many squad cars and policemen rushing, yelling and making 
such an arrest.


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