Man arrested for carjacking and cocaine

KALAMAZOO, Mich.(WOOD) - A 19-year-old man, recently released from prison and on parole for home invasion, is facing new charges after allegedly stealing an SUV and fleeing officers Saturday morning.

A Norfolk Railroad employee parked his vehicle at the corner of Porter and Willard streets around 7:49 a.m., left the vehicle's engine on, and went into his employer's tower to sign out of work, according to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.

When the employee came out of the building and noticed someone was sitting in the driver's seat of his Chevrolet Tahoe, which had been unlocked, police said.

The vehicle's owner confronted the strange male, who the put the vehicle in reverse and backed into a railroad sign.

The owner then ran to the SUV and grabbed the luggage rack. As the owner held on, the stranger began to speed away in the parking lot toward a parked vehicle.

The owner let go of the rack moments before the SUV sideswiped the side of the parked vehicle, police said.

The vehicle thief sped northbound on Porter Street, police said, and lost lost control of the SUV, which struck a utility pole head-on. Both air bags deployed, but the suspect continued to drive, police said.

Officers, with the help of several concerned residents, located the stolen SUV abandoned in the 2700 block of Slater Drive.

Police K-9 units searched the area and spotted a man matching the description of the suspect, in the New Horizon Apartment Complex near Inverness Lane and St. Albans Way.

When the suspect saw police, he ran southbound across Gull Road. After a short foot chase, the suspect was arrested.

The suspect from Kalamazoo is now facing charges of carjacking, reckless driving, driving without a license, resisting and obstructing officers, and possession with intent to deliver imitation cocaine.

If you have more information about this crime then you are asked to call the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269.337.8994, the Criminal Investigation Division at 269.337.8139 or Silent Observer at 269.343.2100.