Montague man allegedly steals truck, hits police car during chase, rolls truck over

GRANT TWP. — A 32-year-old Montague man is in custody following a police chase Sunday, April 19, at 3:09 p.m. that involved a stolen pickup truck, which struck a patrol car and rolled over after striking a utility pole.

The chase involving officers from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office and the Hart post of the Michigan State Police began on South 88th Avenue near Cleveland Road; then proceeded to Winston Road; and west on Winston to South 56th Avenue in Grant and Claybanks townships, according to an Oceana County Sheriff’s Office press release.

“At just after 3 p.m., Oceana County Central Dispatch advised all Oceana law enforcement to be-on-the-lookout for a stolen vehicle in the Rothbury area,” the press release states. “Dispatch advised that they’d received a call of a possible stolen 1997 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that was stolen out of Montague City was now in the Rothbury area.

“Just after that B.O.L was broadcast, an Oceana County deputy spotted a vehicle matching the description of the stolen vehicle sitting roadside near the intersection of Cleveland Road and 88th Avenue. The deputy pulled in behind the vehicle and activated his lights on his sheriff’s patrol car; the suspect then waived his wallet out the window at the deputy. As the deputy got out of his patrol car to approach, the stolen vehicle then sped southbound on 88th Avenue.

“The deputy then called in a pursuit and was almost immediately assisted by a state trooper from the Hart post,” the press release states.

“They followed the vehicle south until Winston Road, where the vehicle then turned westbound and continued west until it came to the ‘T’ intersection at South 56th Avenue. The suspect vehicle then turned south on 56th Avenue. The deputy’s patrol vehicle was then struck in the side by the vehicle the suspect was driving. After the suspect struck the patrol car, he lost control of the stolen pickup  and slid off the road into a deep ditch where upon the vehicle struck a power pole and overturned. The suspect was then taken into custody.”

Warrants are being issued Monday, April 20, on possible charges of fleeing and eluding; assaulting a police officer; operating under the influence of drugs; and possession of stolen property. Additional charges from the Montague Police Department and the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office are forthcoming.