Police chase with stolen cop car ends in crash on US 23

(WXYZ) - Police have a suspect in custody in connection with a police chase that ran through several counties.

The chase began in Blackman Township in Jackson County and ran along I-94 through part of Washtenaw County before ending in a crash on US 23 in Monroe County.

Police say the incident began when they were trying to recover a stolen car at the Colonial Inn motel. When they approached the room associated with the car, the man inside pointed what looked like a gun at them. It turned out to be a pellet gun.

The 34-year-old suspect eventually put the pellet gun down and a women in the room let officers inside. At that point the man was taken into custody and police began searching the room. They found both a sawed off shotgun and an active meth lab.

The man was handcuffed and put into the back of a police SUV. While in the back of the vehicle, he was able to get the handcuffs past his feet so that his hands were in front of his body. He was then able to force his way past the protective screen and get from the back seat into the front of the SUV.

Officers tried to stop the man, but he as able to get away. He then sped along eastbound I-94 through Jackson and Washtenaw counties, where he got onto southbound US 23 and took off towards the Ohio border. At times speeds in the chase topped 100 mph.

During the chase he sideswiped a number of and rear ended a car. It was this crash that ended the chase. No one was hurt.

After the crash the suspect suffered an apparent seizure. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. Police say he is from Chelsea, but have not yet released his name.

The woman who was in the hotel room when the incident started is being questioned by police.

Southbound US 23 was shut down near the Ohio border for several hours while police investigated the scene.