Sterling Heights Woman Charged After Wild Police Chase Through Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) - A Sterling Heights woman who led police on a wild, televised chase Tuesday through Detroit and Hamtramck could face up to five years in prison.

Valerie Margaret Mathews, 28, was arraigned in 36th District Court Thursday on a charge of third degree fleeing and eluding

Judge Lewis Langston set bond at $50,000, 10 percent, which was posted, and Mathews was released on the condition she wear a GPS tether.

According to police, the pursuit began when officers were called to investigate a suspicious black van in the area of Gable and Stockton on Detroit's east side.

At one point, the driver sped through residential yards, driving precariously close to houses. Roughly a dozen police vehicles were involved, at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour.

Mathews eventually bailed out of the van near I-75 and Caniff in Hamtramck, and a brief foot chase ensued. After Mathews tried and failed to hop a fence, she was tackled by a pair of officers, carried off to a patrol car and taken into custody.

No injuries were reported. It's unclear at this time why she fled, but reports say Matthews has a warrant out for her arrest in Ohio.

Mathews will be back in court for a probable cause conference on April 13 and a preliminary hearing on April 19.

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