Man agrees to deal in theft of van, police chase - stole Oakland police cruiser 2 days earlier
LAPEER CITY - THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Tuesday, June 14, 2005 By James L. Smith
A man charged in Oakland County with stealing a state police car agreed to a plea bargain in Lapeer County in the theft of a van and police chase.
John W. Metzelburg III, 31, Monday pleaded guilty to charges of fleeing and eluding, receiving and concealing stolen property over $1,000 and third degree habitual criminal before Circuit Judge Nick O. Holowka.
Under terms of the agreement, Metzelburg's potential prison sentence is capped at five years and will run concurrently with any sentence he receives in Oakland County. The prosecutor also dropped assault and resisting arrest charges in exchange for the plea.
Defense attorney Elbert Hatchett told Holowka that following any sentences in Michigan, Metzelburg will be returned to Colorado to complete a prison term there.
Metzelburg admitted that he stole the van in Lapeer County on Jan. 18 and then ran from police when they tried to stop him. Metzelburg stole the van two days after he had stolen a state police cruiser in Springfield Township while handcuffed.