A wild police chase across Detroit's west side ended in a backyard, under a trampoline. A fleeing driver, tracked from above by a Michigan State Police helicopter, forced his way through a home's window before finally ducking under a backyard trampoline, where officers arrested him. The helicopter footage, released today, shows the man abandoning his car in the middle of the road, dashing between houses and crawling into yards while ground units closed in. Neighbors watched as about a dozen officers surrounded the yard and took the suspect into custody.
Helicopter footage maps the route
Michigan State Police released the aerial footage Friday, and ClickOnDetroit reviewed the infrared video, which begins with the suspect heading south on Biltmore Street from 7 Mile Road. The report says the vehicle returns to 7 Mile, drives south past Outer Drive, then leaves the main road onto Curtis Street and rides on grass and sidewalks across several yards before slowing on Santa Maria Avenue. Ground units are then seen closing in as the driver flees on foot between houses.
Man tries to slip inside, then hides under trampoline
The infrared footage captures dispatch audio and officers' radio traffic, and the video includes the line "Opening the window, he's trying to get in now," as the man is seen halfway through a window before breaking away, ClickOnDetroit reported. The clip follows him down an alley between Indiana Avenue and Wisconsin Street and into a backyard, where he hides underneath a trampoline until officers approach. After crawling back out and jumping a fence twice, about a dozen officers box him in and make the arrest.
Why aerial overwatch matters
State police aviation crews use thermal and infrared sensors to track suspects after they flee vehicles, and local outlets have published similar MSP helicopter videos in other recent cases. FOX 2 Detroit has documented Trooper helicopters guiding ground units to suspects who crash or run on foot, showing how aerial teams keep tabs through yards and alleys. That same aerial capability was central to keeping officers on the man in this incident.
Authorities have not released the suspect's name or any charges tied to the arrest. WDIV's ClickOnDetroit carries the full MSP video for viewers who want to see the chase footage.
