On a dark stretch of Detroit roadway early today, a Michigan State Police trooper sprinted toward a burning pickup, yanked a 15-year-old from the cab, and kept the teen alive long enough for medics to arrive. Police say the truck was stolen, and the boy is now facing juvenile proceedings.
The crash happened at Outer Drive and Evergreen, where the stolen pickup slammed into another vehicle and burst into flames. The teen behind the wheel suffered a minor head injury and was taken to a hospital. Officers later apprehended him on suspicion of possessing the stolen vehicle and failing to stop for police. He was released to his mother while the prosecutor's juvenile division reviews the case and prepares for juvenile court proceedings.
Trooper spots wreck after failed traffic stop
According to FOX 2 Detroit, a trooper first tried to pull over a stolen Ford near Outer Drive and Schoolcraft just after 5 a.m. Instead of stopping, the driver took off and ran a red light.
Per department policy, the trooper backed off rather than start a high-speed chase and radioed the truck's last known location to dispatch. While updating the Detroit Regional Communication Center, the trooper then saw the wreck at Outer Drive and Evergreen. The stolen pickup had hit another vehicle and caught fire.
The trooper ran to the flaming truck, pulled the 15-year-old from the cab, and provided medical aid until medics arrived, authorities said.
Teen held at hospital, then released to family
"While at the hospital, he was apprehended for possession of a stolen car and failing to stop for police," MSP F/Lt. Mike Shaw told FOX 2 Detroit.
State police said the teen's only reported injury was a minor head wound. Details on the condition of the driver of the other vehicle were not immediately available.
Why troopers sometimes avoid high-speed pursuits
Michigan State Police have leaned more on helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in recent years, tightening the rules on when troopers can chase suspects on city streets. In some cases, they simply track a car from above while ground units hang back.
New Media Detroit reported a January incident where troopers used air support to follow a stolen vehicle on the Southfield Freeway while patrol cars did not engage in a chase.
Nationally, the Police Executive Research Forum has urged departments to restrict pursuits to situations where the danger of letting a suspect go immediately outweighs the risk to everyone else on the road. The group’s guidance outlines policies for when to initiate or call off a chase, supervision from command staff, and ways to reduce the chance of serious crashes.
How Michigan handles juvenile charges
When a suspect is under 18 in Michigan, the case usually lands first on the desk of the county prosecutor's juvenile division. Prosecutors decide whether to file a delinquency petition, which then moves the case into the family division of the circuit court.
The process, including hearings, legal standards, and the rights afforded to minors in delinquency cases, is laid out in the Michigan Judicial Institute's Juvenile Justice Benchbook.
