A 35-year-old Redford man who recklessly drove a tree trimming truck with a woodchipper attached in Brighton Township was arrested after police found him hiding inside a large Rubbermaid container in the back of a home.
According to a release from the Michigan State Police, at approximately 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, troopers from the Brighton Post of the Michigan State Police were on the lookout for a large tree trimming truck pulling a wood-chipper that was driving recklessly in Brighton Township. While troopers were trying to locate the vehicle, people were calling 911 to report that the operator of the truck was driving recklessly, driving off the road, and hitting mailboxes. Several witnesses said the truck almost hit several cars head-on.
While troopers were looking for the vehicle, Livingston County Dispatch indicated the truck was stolen and had been pursued earlier by officers with the Redford Township Police Department. The pursuit was terminated after the suspect hit one of the Redford Township Police cars. Dispatch advised the suspect was possibly armed with a handgun, allegedly robbed a subject of his dog prior to the pursuit and was possibly high on meth.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as a 35-year-old Redford Township man, crashed into a tree at the corner of Hilton Road and Old US-23 in Brighton Township and fled on foot.
Shortly thereafter, a Michigan State Police K-9 unit located the man inside a large Rubbermaid container at the rear of a residence nearby. The man was taken into custody without incident.
During an interview with troopers, the man indicated he had ingested meth or another unknown drug while operating the stolen vehicle, and admitted to fleeing from police earlier in the day.
The man also admitted to stealing the dog at gunpoint, but said the dog jumped out of the vehicle while he was driving. The dog has not been located. Once medical clearance is obtained, the driver will be lodged at the Livingston County Jail on numerous charges, to include operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and unlawful driving away of an automobile. His name will be released once he is arraigned in Livingston County District Court.
Troopers were assisted by personnel from the Brighton Police Department, Hamburg Police Department and the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with further information about the incident can contact Trooper Jackson Winters at (810) 227-1051.
