What started as a Halloween joyride in a stolen muscle car has now landed a Warren man in felony territory. Kaleb Neal pleaded guilty to second-degree fleeing a police officer in a Wayne County case tied to an October high-speed chase that ended when a stolen Dodge Challenger slammed into another car at Lahser and Grand River, critically injuring the other driver. Neal, who was 19 at the time of the chase, entered his plea last Tuesday and is scheduled to be sentenced May 11 in Wayne County Circuit Court. Four other felony counts were dismissed as part of the deal.
How police say the chase unfolded
According to FOX 2 Detroit, Southfield officers first spotted the Challenger around 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 31 near Eight Mile Road and Northland Drive. The car had been reported stolen roughly 30 minutes earlier. Officers tried to pull it over, but the driver took off, and a pursuit began south on Lahser.
Police say the chase quickly hit dangerous speeds, and officers called it off at Lahser and Bennett, in line with department policy on high-risk pursuits. The decision to terminate would prove crucial because the Challenger did not slow down.
Crash and evidence recovered
Moments after the pursuit was ended, the Challenger allegedly ran a red light at Lahser and Grand River and t-boned a Toyota Corolla, sending the smaller car careening into the side of a building. The Corolla's only occupant, a 25-year-old man, had to be extricated by firefighters and was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Police say the suspect bolted from the wreck on foot but did not get far before officers caught him. He was treated for minor injuries. At the scene and in the vehicle, officers later recovered live 9mm rounds, a stolen Glock 19 with an extended magazine and a device commonly used to steal vehicles, according to The Metro Detroit News.
Court records and charges
Wayne County booking records list Neal under docket number 25-7042 on felony counts that include second-degree fleeing, reckless driving causing serious impairment and failure to stop at the scene of an accident, among others, as shown in the Wayne County Sheriff's inmate inquiry. The records indicate Neal was booked on Nov. 2, 2025 and faced multiple felony counts tied to the crash.
Court documents also note that Neal faces separate charges in Oakland County related to the alleged vehicle theft and other offenses, setting up a second legal front once the Wayne County case is resolved.
Plea deal and what's next
On March 31, Neal entered a plea to one count of second-degree fleeing a police officer. Under the agreement, four other felony counts, including reckless driving causing serious impairment, failure to stop at the scene and receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, were dismissed, according to ClickOnDetroit.
Judge Jeffrey G. Collins presided over the plea hearing. Neal is set to return to Wayne County Circuit Court on May 11 for sentencing, where the judge will weigh the plea, the serious injuries to the uninvolved driver and Neal's remaining legal exposure.
Officers defend pursuit and public safety questions
Southfield officials have stood by the officers involved, saying they followed department procedures and terminated the chase once speeds climbed to a dangerous level. Chief Elvin Barren said after the crash that the pursuit was handled according to policy, as reported by The Metro Detroit News.
Still, the case is far from tidy. The recovery of a stolen firearm, an extended magazine and a pro-pad device, along with the life-altering injuries suffered by an uninvolved driver, has put fresh scrutiny on how departments balance aggressive pursuit of suspects with the safety of everyone else on the road.
Neal faces sentencing on May 11, while the Oakland County matter remains pending and prosecutors in both jurisdictions sort out next steps. Officials have asked anyone with information about the chase to contact the Southfield Police Department or Crime Stoppers, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
