EMMETT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Troopers say a hunter called 911 to report a man who was acting suspiciously Friday morning — leading police directly to a fugitive who had fled the scene of a crash earlier that morning.
A local hunter was out in the woods in the area of Emmett Township when he saw a man near his all-terrain vehicle, according to the Michigan State Police. The hunter reported that the man was “looking suspiciously at his ATV.” After having a brief conversation with the man, troopers say the hunter called 911 and told police about the suspicious activity.
“Unbeknownst to the hunter, the individual he had encountered was a fugitive and the subject of an active manhunt,” state police wrote in a release.
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The man had multiple outstanding warrants, and earlier Friday morning, he had been involved in “a dangerous hit-and-run” on Michigan Avenue near 12 1/2 Mile Road, according to MSP.
State police say the man had rammed another vehicle, which contained his girlfriend, multiple times and chased the vehicle on Michigan Avenue, causing a multi-car crash with his “erratic driving.” Ultimately, the man’s vehicle went off the road and was disabled.
The man fled the scene of the crash and went into the woods, according to MSP. That’s where he encountered the hunter.
After the hunter called 911, officers were able to track down the man and arrest him without further incident, state police say. The 28-year-old Battle Creek man was jailed on several charges, including assault with a vehicle, according to MSP. His name was not released Friday.
“As deer hunting season begins, we are reminding outdoor enthusiasts to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately,” troopers wrote. “This arrest marks a successful conclusion to what could have been a much more dangerous situation, thanks to the coordinated efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies and an alert hunter.”
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