Police said the man drove the van into a porch and garage on Springbrook Street before it came to a halt.
Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com
Michael Garner
Courtesy of Washtenaw County Jail
The 34-year-old Ann Arbor man accused of stealing a van and leading officers on a chase that ended when police shot out the tires was arraigned on seven charges in the 15th District Court Wednesday, according to court records.
Michael Frederick Garner was charged with unlawful driving away of an automobile, third-degree fleeing and eluding, two counts of assaulting/resisting a police officer, reckless driving, operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license and operating a vehicle without a license.
Garner is accused of stealing the van from his caregiver after an outing in the 3200 block of East Eisenhower Parkway around 9:40 p.m. July 2, police said.
Police said Garner locked his caregiver out of the van and drove off while the caregiver hung on to the side-view mirror. Officers saw the van heading east on Eisenhower with no lights on as the caregiver clung to the mirror, according to police. The caregiver was able to step away from the vehicle as police attempted to pull it over.
Police say Garner did not stop, but instead fled in the van and struck five vehicles on a side street with it before stopping on the front lawn of a residence in the 3200 block of Springbrook. Garner is accused of backing up the van as officers approached it and ramming the patrol car, police said.
An officer then shot out one of the van's tires to stop it. The man then drove the van into a porch and garage before it came to a halt.
Garner is free on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond. A preliminary examination is set for Aug. 8.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.