Tag: Car Theft

Three suspect were arrested after a stolen car crashed into another vehicle in Grand Rapids Thursday morning, though deputies were still looking for two more.

The Kent County Sheriff’s Office said deputies got a report of a stolen car around 6:30 a.m. Thursday. Someone had left the keys in a black Ford SUV on Village Spring Drive SE north of Ada Drive in Ada Township and it was stolen.

Around 7:15 p.m., a deputy saw that SUV on Lake Eastbrook Boulevard near the Shops at CenterPoint. Dashboard camera released by the sheriff’s office shows the driver took off and turned north onto the East Beltline. The deputy gave chase. The Ford ran one red light and then, while running another at Burton Street SE, it collided with a westbound car. The car rolled over into the median.

“Oh, bad crash,” the deputy who was chasing the SUV reported of his radio. “Start medical. Rollover.”

The five people inside the SUV took off, the dashcam video shows.

Deputies hurried to help the people in the car. The sheriff’s department said the driver, a 25-year-old from Grand Rapids, was treated at the hospital and was expected to be released quickly.

Deputies called in dogs to track the suspects down. The search prompted Calvin University to temporarily lock down campus Thursday morning. The lockdown had been lifted as of 2 p.m.

One of the suspects was caught by a passing civilian and then turned over to police. Two others were later found by police; one had a loaded handgun, deputies said. The three people arrested were ages 14, 15 and 18.

Deputies did not release descriptions of the two remaining suspects.

The sheriff’s department said it has investigated 187 stolen car reports so far this year. That figure was 178 during the same period last year.

“We continue our attempt to curb these thefts and bring resolution to the many victims of these crimes,” the sheriff’s department wrote in a release. “Please help us out by keeping your cars locked and keys inside your home.”

Search Intensifies for Suspects Following Stolen SUV Incident

Kent County deputies are actively searching for two suspects who fled the scene after a stolen SUV was involved in a serious accident. According to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the crash that occurred early Thursday morning at the intersection of East Beltline and Burton. The stolen vehicle, reported missing from Ada Township around 6:30 a.m., was eventually found near Centerpoint about an hour later.

Details of the Crash and Subsequent Pursuit

The stolen SUV was initially spotted outside Planet Fitness before it sped off, eventually running a stoplight at Burton Street and colliding with another vehicle. The crash caused the second vehicle to overturn, injuring a 25-year-old man from Grand Rapids, who was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The collision also resulted in a broken utility pole, and dashcam footage of the incident has been released by the sheriff’s office.

Progress in the Investigation and Ongoing Search

After the crash, five suspects fled the scene, with one being captured by a civilian and handed over to authorities. Police managed to apprehend two more suspects, but two individuals remain at large. Among those arrested, three are teens—a 14-year-old, a 15-year-old, and an 18-year-old, with one suspect hospitalized. Deputies are continuing their efforts to locate the remaining fugitives. The KCSO has acknowledged the support from Michigan State Police and local departments in the investigation.

Rising Concerns Over Stolen Vehicles

This incident is part of a larger trend, with the KCSO noting an increase in stolen vehicle reports this year compared to the same period last year. So far, 187 stolen vehicle cases have been investigated in 2024, up from 178 cases at this time last year.