Police Arrest Man Who Led High-Speed Chase After Threatening Meijer Shopper With Gun

NOVI (WWJ) - Authorities say a man who threatened a stranger at an Oakland County Meijer store before leading police on a high-speed chase through several cities has been taken into custody.

Wixom Police Lt. Ron Moore said the incident unfolded around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday when the suspect walked into the Meijer store on Grand River Avenue in Wixom, pointed a gun at a stranger and made some threatening remarks.

"It appears as though the man he pointed the gun at was the first person he saw when he came through the door. We have no indication of a dispute or a past history," Moore told WWJ's Zahra Huber. "The victim did not know this man, had never seen him before. It was a total stranger."

No shots were fired and no one was injured, but the suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.

Several hours later, the suspect came back to the store while officers were still investigating.

"Witnesses told the officers that that was him and the officers began to pursue him. He did not stop," said Moore.

The suspect ran to the parking lot, got into a vehicle and fled the scene "at a high rate of speed." Officers from several jurisdictions joined the chase as the suspect went through Novi and Farmington Hills. Ultimately, police made the decision to end the pursuit "due to the suspect's high speeds and erratic driving," but not before obtaining a key piece of information.

"The officers were able to get close enough to obtain the license plate number off the vehicle," said Moore. "From that license plate, we were able to obtain an address in Novi."

Officers went to the address, on Fieldstone Drive, where they found the suspect and surrounded the home. Shortly thereafter, the man surrendered to police. Other family members were present at the home, but Moore said they had nothing to do with the incident.

"I'm happy to say it ended peacefully and no one was injured," he said. "The public is safe, I want the public to know that right off the bat. It appears as though this was one man committing these crimes, and we have him in custody."

Moore said detectives will be doing a methodical, thorough search of the man's home before presenting the case to prosecutors.

"We're now slowing the investigation down. Time is on our side," he said. "Ultimately, we're looking for the weapon in question that was used, any other weapons, and anything that would support this investigation."

Charges are pending.

"I can tell you right now that he's under arrest for felonious assault, and that was pointing the weapon in the direction of the victim, and for fleeing and eluding of a police officer," said Moore. "The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office will make the ultimate charging decision, but it appears as though the elements of those two crimes have been met."

Moore expressed gratitude to the Novi Police Department and the Oakland County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in the investigation, which is ongoing.