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A habitual offender accused of leading Wyandotte police on a high-speed chase that ended with a crash into two police vehicles has been charged with five felonies and could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted on all counts.
David Ryan Carter, 29, was traveling east on Eureka Road, approaching Fort Street, at around 1:40 a.m. April 5, when an officer spotted him making a prohibited turn onto northbound Fort Street, where he accelerated through a red light at Oak Street.
The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver kept going.
According to police, the vehicle accelerated to a speed of more than 100 mph as the officer pursued the driver. The pursuit continued on northbound Fort Street through Wyandotte and Lincoln Park.
The driver continued his attempt to elude the officer while on eastbound Southfield Road, before heading south on Jefferson Avenue through the cities of Ecorse and Wyandotte.
In the 500 block of Biddle Avenue, the suspect drove over a lawn and sidewalk as he sped through the residential streets. He turned back onto Biddle and turned east into a parking lot, which unknown to the driver had no outlet.
The vehicle was forced to stop, so the officers exited their patrol vehicles in an attempt to arrest the driver. Police said Carter accelerated directly toward several officers, coming dangerously close to striking them.
The suspect turned onto northbound Biddle and fled into Ecorse, where officers continued the pursuit. The vehicle continued fleeing through residential streets through Ecorse, River Rouge and Detroit.
Police pursued Carter into Detroit’s Greektown area.
Once again, the driver turned onto a dead-end, this time at Minneapolis and Bluehill.
“He again refused to surrender and turned around, accelerating head-on with two Wyandotte patrol cars,” Deputy Police Chief Archie Hamilton said. “The suspect collided with both police cars, forcing his vehicle to a stop.”
The officers quickly converged on the vehicle, but police said Carter continued his refusal to cooperate.
Hamilton said an officer struck Carter with a Taser in order to remove him from the vehicle and get him secured in handcuffs.
According to police records, Carter has five prior felony convictions that include home invasion, multiple felony weapons offenses, and unlawful driving away of an automobile.
Carter was arraigned before 27th District Judge Elizabeth DiSanto and charged with fleeing a police officer, third degree, a five-year felony; two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (felonious assault) automobile, a four-year felony for each count; assault with a dangerous weapon (felonious assault), a four-year felony; and assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, a felony that carries a two-year penalty.
Carter is listed as a habitual offender, with a fourth offense notice, meaning he was previously convicted of three or more felonies or attempts to commit them.
Hamilton has been outspoken about what he views as a need to change laws that restrict police during pursuits.
“It’s clear that this criminal thought that running from the police would be his free pass to continue to victimize hard-working citizens,” Hamilton said. “However, he was wrong this time. I would be willing to bet that this criminal has run from the police numerous times only to have them turn off their lights due to the restrictive policies that handcuff our law enforcement officers across our state. Unfortunately, the current laws will likely fail to keep someone like this criminal from tormenting society for very long. Though, that should not overshadow the amazing, relentless effort by these officers and detectives involved.”
Carter’s bond was set at $100,000 cash. In the event he is able to post bond, he must wear a GPS and alcohol tether, and is to have no contact with co-defendants or witnesses in this case. He also has been ordered to refrain from illegal drugs and alcohol, and he cannot operate a motor vehicle.
His next day in court is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. April 14 for a probable cause conference.
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