Meth-lab maker crashes during chase

HARTFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A 33-year-old Hartford man was arrested following a wild car chase and foot pursuit with Van Buren County deputies.

A deputy was on patrol in the area of 66th Avenue and County Road 687 in Hartford Township around 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

He saw a red SUV driven by a man who was known to have a suspended license and been involved in a police pursuit about three weeks prior, in which he eluded police.

The deputy activated his vehicle's overhead lights as the suspect continued eastbound on 66th Avenue.

The suspect did not stop and sped away, eventually disobeying stop signs, according to a news release.

The suspect then got to the "T" intersection of 66th Avenue and 60th Street, and was unable to stop his vehicle, which slid through the intersection and crashed through a cattle gate.

The suspect then ran into the woods.

The deputy ran after the suspect who was seen having an unknown object in his hands.

The suspect fled up to 68th Avenue.  

A K-9 unit was called to scene and tracked the suspect to a private residence where the suspect tried to steal a van parked in the driveway. But the keys were not in the vehicle.

The K-9 unit continued tracking through a wooded area and corn field where the suspect was found hiding next to some trees.

The suspect was believed to be under the influence of illegal narcotics and fought with the deputy and K-9 unit's dog, Temo.

The suspect was eventually taken into custody and a hospital for treatment of injuries he received from the crash.

Deputies later located a methamphetamine lab that the suspect had with him in the vehicle.

Pokagon Tribal Police and Michigan State Police assisted in the investigation.