Man who led Warren police on chase with son in car pleads no contest

A Detroit man has pleaded no contest to charges after Macomb County prosecutors say he was driving erratically and led Warren police on a chase with his 9-year-old son in the vehicle.

Prosecutors say on Dec. 16, 2025, Otez Coil, 31, was seen by police driving erratically and speeding on southbound Van Dyke in Warren. Police say Coil was driving at speeds above 80 mph and disregarded police when they attempted a traffic stop. 

Coil ultimately lost control of his Jeep and crashed into a guardrail on 11 Mile Road near Van Dyke, police said.

When Coil exited the wrecked vehicle, authorities say he grabbed his son on the way out. Police provided dashcam and body cam video that showed the pursuit, crash and officers yelling at the driver, "Put the kid down."

At a pretrial conference on Monday, Coil pleaded no contest to second-degree fleeing and eluding. Coil also pleaded no contest to fourth-degree child abuse and operating while intoxicated. He was charged as a third-offense habitual offender. 

As part of his plea deal, the charge of driving with a suspended license will be dismissed when Coil is sentenced. 

"As I have repeatedly stated, fleeing from law enforcement is extremely dangerous, to the public and to the police attempting to enforce the law. We have seen so many incidents of innocent individuals killed by drivers fleeing from police. This case is additionally troubling because the defendant's child was in the vehicle. We are grateful that the child was not injured," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido.

Coil is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13.