A routine traffic stop in downtown Ferndale turned chaotic Friday night when a vehicle took off from officers and smashed into the side of a Verizon store, police said. The driver lost control while turning from Woodward onto Lewiston Street and hit the storefront. Three adult men who had been inside the car were taken into custody, and police reported no injuries. The driver is expected to face a charge of fleeing and eluding.
Royal Oak police said they first tried to pull the car over after the driver ran a red light at 10 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue. Instead of stopping, the vehicle sped off southbound on Woodward and then made a hard right onto Lewiston, where the turn ended with the crash into the Verizon building, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
Where it happened
The impact sent the car into the side of the Verizon shop on Lewiston just off Woodward, damaging the storefront and briefly drawing a heavy police response to the corner. Business listings show a Verizon retail location at that intersection, per MapQuest.
Arrests and expected charges
All three adult men who were in the vehicle were arrested at the scene and taken into custody, police said. Authorities told reporters that alcohol and drugs did not appear to be factors and that the driver is expected to face a fleeing-and-eluding charge, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit.
Ferndale and Royal Oak police said the investigation is still active and that additional charges could be filed as detectives continue to review the case. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Royal Oak Police Department.
