ATV drivers sought after high-speed chase from Saline to Milan
Authorities in Saline are trying to locate two men who led police on a high-speed chase through the city and into Milan while riding ATVs.
Officers were on patrol downtown shortly after 1 a.m. on July 6 when they heard the loud throttle of ATV engines heading south toward Saline Township on Ann Arbor Street. They saw the ATVs cresting a hill ahead, traveling at roughly 50 mph and pursued the ATVs on Saline-Milan Road.
Officers activated their sirens but the ATV drivers, now riding side-by-side in both lanes of the two-lane road, didn’t stop. The drivers barely slowed down for stop signs and ran at least two, according to police.
The ATV operators continued southbound at speeds ranging between 75 mph and 100 mph until one of the ATVs made a quick turn at the Stony Creek Road intersection, and headed west, reports said. The rear wheels of both ATVs touched momentarily during the turn, nearly causing a crash, officers said.
Police pursued the other ATV into Milan at speeds of about 80 mph. Two Milan police vehicles were stopped in the roadway with their sirens activated, but the driver sped past them through downtown. The drive braked hard near a residential side street and turned into the darkened neighborhood. Officers said they couldn’t slow down in time for the turn and lost sight of the ATV when it continued into the neighborhood. They terminated the pursuit.
Saline Detective Don Lupi said the upon viewing the patrol-car video of chase, the ATVs appeared to have racing-style tires that enabled them to make quick turns and accelerate. Authorities would not release the recordings at this stage of the investigation.
The drivers are only described as white. They wore helmets and drove ATVs that were black and blue in color.
Lupi said the chase lasted seven minutes. The motorists could face felony counts for fleeing and eluding police, as well as multiple driving violations.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Don Lupi at 734-429-7911 or e-mail him at dlupi@cityofsaline.org.
Comments
Ronn
Sun, Jul 25, 2010 : 8 a.m.
Release the video!
Jeremy
Fri, Jul 23, 2010 : 12:20 p.m.
As a side note. I saw two Yamaha Raptors heading north on Ridge hwy just after south of the Lenawee county border last night at about 6:30 PM.
Fat Bill
Thu, Jul 22, 2010 : 9:32 p.m.
Folks, bikes get away from police vehicles frequently. They stop quicker, accelerate quicker, and can fit/go places where a patrol car cannot. In many cases, the bikers/riders crash, into trees or other cars that don't see them or realize how fast they are going, etc, and then are then "selected against" as Darwin might say... Pawky's comments are spot-on.
AlwaysLate
Thu, Jul 22, 2010 : 2:06 p.m.
@Ricebrnr....the article says the chase was entirely on the roads...nothing about it being offroad or through any unusual terrain. Plus, it says the Milan Police were "stopped on the roadway". And ATV's still got away??? I don't think so! You seem to know a lot about the tactics involved...are you one of the cops that was in hot pursuit?
CobraII
Thu, Jul 22, 2010 : 8:02 a.m.
Saline & Milan cops, what did you expect?
a2grateful
Thu, Jul 22, 2010 : 6:06 a.m.
100 mph before "vanishing?" Classic fish-that-got-away saga... or Keystone cop story... Could be nice YouTube fodder, regardless! Gotta' wipe the egg of our faces, first; )
pawky
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 11:55 p.m.
Catching up to the criminals on ATVs is the easy part. Stopping them without stop sticks (road spikes) or ramming them is another thing. Ramming an ATV could likely result in serious injury or death to the criminal. That option could constitute deadly force. Police may utilize potentially deadly force to prevent the escape of a violent felon whose escape could endanger the public. This scenario probably didnt meet that criterion. Two things would likely have happened if the officers rammed the criminals: 1: The officers would likely become unemployed and possibly incarcerated. 2) The prestigious law firm of Dewey, Cheatem & Howe would make the criminals (or the criminals next-of-kin) wealthy beyond their imagination at taxpayer expense while lining their pockets. Hopefully the criminals will be caught before their insanity kills an innocent person.
boom
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 9:38 p.m.
Thanks Jeremy for the details. I didn't think an ATV could reach 80 mph, much less 100 like the story indicates the riders may have been doing. Wouldn't catch me doing 100 on an ATV. No pun intended.
iamwrite
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 8:40 p.m.
@hussflier: Good job at getting away on your bike and in the vette! Now the internets has your IP address and after admitting your crime the "Man" is now closing in!! Glad no one was injured in this high speed chase!
Ricebrnr
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 3:59 p.m.
All these negative comments for the police. I don't suppose anyone considered that an ATV can go places a car cannot? That at night without night vision and/or air support with a midnight sun and FLIR that getting away in a chase is probably easier on those ATV's than say in a car limited to roadways? Geez the article says they were seen as they were cresting the hill. Pass a few more hills then pull off when the police are not in sight then shut everything down and hunker in the woods. Old trick cross country motorcyclists have used forever.
trace_effect
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 3:42 p.m.
This is what happens when you buy Ford POS's with ancient suspension technology, you slide all over the road. Stop being silly and buy the Pontiac G8 (its an Australian car that GM appropriated). http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-news/back-in-black-pontiac-g8-could-live-on-as-chevy-badged-cop-car/18463974+w750/pontiac-g8-police-car-prototype.jpg
AlwaysLate
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 3:15 p.m.
Saline Police officers could not catch two guys on ATVs?? I dont think so More than likely, they caught the ATVs. But, let them go after receiving a donation to the Police Orphans and Widows Fund. Then they made up the exciting chase story!
Jeremy
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 2:33 p.m.
No way an production ATV can do 100 MPH. 1) They are not geared for it 2) Most ATVs are less than 50 HP. Given the black and blue color I am assuming Yamahas. So a stock Raptor 700 can do in the mid 70s at best. Even heavily moded, they can barely hit 80MPH. http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/439/0/home.aspx Maybe they should release the video.
bad
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 2:28 p.m.
bad boys 1 cops 0
bad
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 2:26 p.m.
good job boys
theodynus
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 2:02 p.m.
They've got VIDEO of this epic chase? I MUST SEE IT. Not to glorify law breaking, but since it didn't end with anyone dead, I give them the Evel Knievel stamp of approval.
Davidian
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 1:44 p.m.
The police look kind of uncoordinated and unprepared here. Let me get this straight--a high speed chase through a downtown district, extremely loud vehicles lost in a quiet neighborhood, no further searching, no one knows anything. What?