A high-speed pursuit involving Southfield Police ended in the arrest of three individuals, among which two are suspected in a Detroit homicide, after officers engaged a stolen vehicle last Friday. FOX 2 Detroit reports that the chase reached speeds exceeding 100 mph on the Lodge Freeway and concluded with the suspects' maroon 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee, previously reported as stolen, being strategically intercepted by police.
Chief Elvin Barren of Southfield Police Department described the operation, saying, "The officers attempted to box the vehicle in, however, the driver swerved out of the way, striking our patrol vehicle, and continued fleeing." Despite this escalation, little traffic and clear weather conditions allowed officers to persist, eventually bringing the car to a halt and facilitating the arrests. In addition to the vehicle, a stolen 9mm handgun with an extended magazine was discovered under the front driver's seat, as per CBS News Detroit.
The driver, identified as 20-year-old Brandon Flowers, faces charges on carrying a concealed weapon, felony firearm, fleeing and eluding and is implicated in an ongoing Detroit homicide investigation. According to Chief Barren, in a statement obtained by WXYZ, "We're not going to let an opportunity go past where an individual is wanted for a homicide and not give that family a chance at closure." Flowers remains in custody in Detroit.
A second suspect, 19-year-old Vernon Phalen Jr., was charged with breaking and entering, larceny and weapons charge stemming from a separate incident in Garden City. The third person, an 18-year-old in the back seat, has yet to be publicly identified pending charges; however, he was also turned over to Detroit police as a suspect in a pending homicide case, the back seat passenger was also turned over to Detroit police.
