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Downstate men charged in high speed chase

ESCANABA — Two downstate men have been charged in connection with a high speed chase Sunday in Delta County.

David Michael Brown, 46, and Charles Perkins IV, 27, both of Kalamazoo, were arraigned Monday in Delta County District Court after the men fled police after shoplifting at a local store.

Brown was charged with the following five counts: fleeing and alluding – third degree, a five-year felony with a maximum fine of $5,000 and license sanctions up to 5 years; two counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer, a two-year felony with a maximum fine of $2,000; retail fraud – first degree of an item worth $1,000 or more, a five-year felony and maximum fine of $10,000; and controlled substance – possession of marijuana, an one-year high court misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $2,000.

Perkins was charged with one count of retail fraud – first degree of an item worth $1,000 or more, a five-year felony and maximum fine of $10,000. Perkins also had a bench warrant out of Kalamazoo County stemming from other charges.

At 8:10 p.m. Sunday, Escanaba Public Safety officers were called to the Escanaba Shopko store on a shoplifting complaint. When an officer arrived, he found a vehicle matching the description he was given in the store’s parking lot.

When the officer activated his squad car’s lights, the vehicle with Brown and Perkins inside fled the scene. Officers pursued the vehicle through commercial and residential areas between Shopko and the Escanaba High School. The vehicle then began traveling northbound on North Lincoln Road and failed to stop at all traffic lights.

The chase continued beyond the Escanaba city limit and into Wells and Gladstone. The vehicle was stopped when police used spike strips to deflate its tires at the intersection of U.S. 2 and South Hill Road in Gladstone.

Brown’s bond was set at $125,000, cash or surety, and Perkins’ bond was set at $75,000, cash or surety. A preliminary exam is set for Wednesday, Nov. 21.

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