Fleeing motorcycle thief found at home

PLAINWELL, Mich. (WOOD) - A man has been tracked down and arrested two days after allegedly stealing a motorcycle, leading police on a high-speed chase, and forcing a temporary lockdown of a hospital.

Michigan State Police said a trooper tried to pull over the motorcyclist around 8:50 a.m. Wednesday along I-94 and Sprinkle Road in Kalamazoo for speeding and having an improper plate registration. The motorcyclist sped away.

As other troopers joined the pursuit that along U.S. 131, the motorcyclist exited at M-89 in Plainwell and drove into the parking lot of Borgess-Pipp Hospital. He left the motorcycle and ran away, police said.

Police dogs were brought in to search for the motorcyclist, but they could not find him. The hospital was locked down for about 45 minutes during the search, said Borgess- Pipp Hospital spokesperson Lew Tysman.

The motorcycle, a Kawasaki cafe/racing style, was reported stolen from Kalamazoo.

Detectives from the Southwest Commercial Auto Recovery Team were able to identify and locate the 39-year-old suspect who was living in the 8300 block of 12th Street in Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety K-9 units assisted in taking the man into custody on several charges related to the motorcycle theft, as well as fleeing and eluding police.

The suspect was also an absconder from parole with the Michigan Department of Corrections.