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Alleged drunk driver crashes into GRPD cruiser

Posted at 4:06 AM, Oct 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-07 11:47:12-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Police say a suspected drunk driver ended up rear ending an officer's cruiser on Lafayette early Saturday morning.

Instead of stopping after the incident, he fled the scene and led police on a short pursuit.

Officers gave up the chase but not before that same suspect T-boned a jeep in the area of Michigan and Monroe.

The suspect only being identified as a 25-year-old man. He is now in police custody.

Police say that at 2:31 a.m. a GRPD lieutenant was stopped at the intersection of Michigan Street and Lafayette Avenue NE facing south when the police cruiser was struck from behind by a vehicle. The driver of the car took off westbound on Michigan Street. The suspect was arrested following a short foot pursuit after crashing his vehicle into a parked car near Michigan Street and Monroe Avenue minutes after.

No serious injuries were reported by the lieutenant or the fleeing driver. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash. The case will be presented to the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

This incident remains under investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is being asked to call the Grand Rapids Police at (616) 456-3400 or Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345. Silent Observer may also be contacted confidentially at http://www.silentobserver.org on the Web.