The 17-year-old male who was arrested after attempting to evade police in April has been charged. The 27-mile police chase started in Marquette after an attempted traffic stop, and ended in Big Bay. 

The suspect’s name is not being released, as he was a minor at the time of the incident. Detective Captain Greg Kinonen of the Marquette Police Department confirmed the suspect was charged. 

According to Kinonen, the suspect was charged with two counts of third-degree flee and elude, malicious destruction of property with a value of $1,000-$20,000, two counts of resisting/obstructing an officer, and an OWI. 

Per the Marquette Police Department, officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on N. Third Street at 11:15 p.m. on Monday, April 1, due to a pickup truck speeding. The truck did not stop, increased their speed, and fled. The driver continued southbound on Third Street until he reached Mather Street. There, he left the road and drove down an embankment, leading him onto the US-41 bypass and out of the sight of officers. 

A bystander saw the truck drive down the embankment, and called 911. This allowed Marquette Police to locate the vehicle and try again to initiate a traffic stop. 

“He was driving at a high rate of speed still, he was now on North Seventh Street, was all over the road, driving very recklessly, officers again looked to see if they could find the vehicle, eventually did find the vehicle, the vehicle did not stop,” sais Captain James Finkbeiner of the Marquette City Police. 

A second pursuit continued, going through multiple parts of the city, and eventually going northbound on CR-550. The pickup truck crashed through an entrance gate at the Huron Mountain Club, where it was brought to halt after hitting a group of trees. The driver then exited the vehicle, and was taken into custody a short time later. 

“The biggest regard for us was the public and how reckless he was driving, even when he wasn’t being pursued he was still driving extremely recklessly, eventually the vehicle got into a wreck up near the Huron Mountain Club,” Finkbeiner said. 

At one point during the pursuit, the pickup truck hit a Marquette Police Department patrol vehicle. There were no injuries reported, and alcohol was allegedly involved in the incident. 

The driver was from lower Michigan, and was sent to UPHS-Marquette to be evaluated. He was later released to his parents.