MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Michigan State Police say that a Muskegon Township police officer was justified in shooting at a suspect who apparently was trying to run him over.
The incident happened Sunday morning at about 1:30am, starting in the 1300 block of Anna in Muskegon Township.
According to Township Police Chief Ken Sanford, Officer Richard Flowers was called to a home where a suspicious vehicle had backed into the driveway of a vacant home. He found the blue Chevy Trailblazer in the driveway and went behind the home to look for the driver. A woman yelled that the driver was running and Flowers went back to the driveway and found the vehicle pulling away from the home.
Flowers followed and the driver started fleeing at a high rate of speed, heading north on Roberts Road. The driver turned east on River Road, which is a dead end roadway. At the end of the roadway, the driver turned around and started getting out and so did Officer Flowers. Police say the driver got back into the vehicle and sped towards Flowers. Flowers fired four shots at the vehicle and then was able to avoid being hit.
Michigan State Police joined the chase, but was not able to stop the vehicle. Investigators were able to identify the suspect from the vehicle and took him into custody at his parent’s home at 6:30pm, Sunday night. Muskegon Police found the vehicle parked at 3050 E. Broadway, Monday afternoon.
The suspect has been identified as David James Pennington, 57. He had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest from Muskegon County. He now faces charges of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Fleeing and Eluding Police and being a Habitual Offender, 4th.
Michigan State Police say that all four rounds shot by Flowers were found in Pennington’s vehicle. None of the shots hit Pennington. Investigators say Flowers followed correct departmental procedures and policies and that the use of deadly force was justified and appropriate.
