Police pursuit in Benton Harbor ends with suspect crashing into parked cars, tree

BENTON HARBOR, Mich.— A 40-year-old suspect was arrested following a police pursuit in Benton Harbor, according to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were inside of their patrol car on M139 near Empire on August 15 around 2 a.m. for a traffic stop when a car came up from behind them and slammed on its brakes before coming to a “screeching halt” behind the marked patrol car.

Police said the patrol car had its emergency lights activated at the time.

The deputies got out of the patrol car and told the driver to stop but the driver left the area.

Police tried to stop the vehicle but it continued driving and ran a stoplight at Main and Pine and lost control, reports said.

The suspect vehicle then hit parked cars in a driveway and a tree in the 200 block of Pine, police said.

The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety assisted with the extrication of the suspect from the vehicle.

The 40-year-old suspect from Benton Harbor was taken to the hospital.

Police said they believe alcohol was a factor in the crash but the incident remains under investigation.