Man accused of stealing van, leading Ann Arbor police on chase faces charges
Police said the man drove the van into a porch and garage on Springbrook Street before it came to a halt.
Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com
Michael Garner
Courtesy of Washtenaw County Jail
The 34-year-old Ann Arbor man accused of stealing a van and leading officers on a chase that ended when police shot out the tires was arraigned on seven charges in the 15th District Court Wednesday, according to court records.
Michael Frederick Garner was charged with unlawful driving away of an automobile, third-degree fleeing and eluding, two counts of assaulting/resisting a police officer, reckless driving, operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license and operating a vehicle without a license.
Garner is accused of stealing the van from his caregiver after an outing in the 3200 block of East Eisenhower Parkway around 9:40 p.m. July 2, police said.
Police said Garner locked his caregiver out of the van and drove off while the caregiver hung on to the side-view mirror. Officers saw the van heading east on Eisenhower with no lights on as the caregiver clung to the mirror, according to police. The caregiver was able to step away from the vehicle as police attempted to pull it over.
Police say Garner did not stop, but instead fled in the van and struck five vehicles on a side street with it before stopping on the front lawn of a residence in the 3200 block of Springbrook. Garner is accused of backing up the van as officers approached it and ramming the patrol car, police said.
An officer then shot out one of the van's tires to stop it. The man then drove the van into a porch and garage before it came to a halt.
Garner is free on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond. A preliminary examination is set for Aug. 8.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
intellcity
Sat, Aug 3, 2013 : 8:12 p.m.
@Basic Bob -- Traumatic brain injury? Head injury due to an accident that caused brain damage commonly abbreviated as TBI Unfortunately this often occurs to motorcycle riders that do not wear helmets, commonly referred to as organ donors. As a society we shy away from people with brain injuries and treat them differently from those with more physical injuries. It can take a long time to heal from brain injuries and some require lifetime care. The same can also be said for those suffering from serious physical injuries.
48104
Sat, Aug 3, 2013 : 11:47 p.m.
I think it is a deduction based on the address where this all started.
Matt Cooper
Sat, Aug 3, 2013 : 8:45 p.m.
So, are you just going a bit off topic or are you assuming that this guy has a TBI? Are you privy to his medical records and information such as to make such as assumption?
Basic Bob
Sat, Aug 3, 2013 : 1:58 p.m.
Traumatic brain injury?
cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 2:03 a.m.
bingo!
Hugh Giariola
Sat, Aug 3, 2013 : 11:19 a.m.
A $5,000 personal recognizance bond?? Is this person even aware of what that means? I too am curious as to why the man needs a caregiver and what his motivation was for stealing the van.
Colorado Sun
Sat, Aug 3, 2013 : 10:15 a.m.
Why did this event occur on July 2, 2013 and he I only being arraigned a month later? Why is he being released on $5,000.00 personal bond when he risked the lives and safety of others in a police chase? Why would police be firing guns to disable a van? Why does this man need a caregiver?
tdw
Sat, Aug 3, 2013 : 5:04 p.m.
Thinking....I would think they have them but who knows ? it was just a thought
Skyjockey43
Sat, Aug 3, 2013 : 4:15 p.m.
3200 Eisenhower is the location for Eisenhower Center - an organization that assists people with brain injuries.
ThinkingOne
Sat, Aug 3, 2013 : 3:36 p.m.
tdw I am pretty sure that AAPD has the 'stop sticks' you mentioned. I don't know that they are standard issue for every patrol car, and I doubt that in this situation they would have had time to open the trunk and get them out and place them behind the van without getting hit again.
tdw
Sat, Aug 3, 2013 : 12:39 p.m.
Well,I'll address one of you questions.They shot out the tires to stop the van ( which is not uncommon ) I don't know but perhaps AAPD doesn't have " stop sticks "