CLARE COUNTY - On Sunday, Feb. 23 at 5:24 p.m., Clare County Central Dispatch received several calls reporting a blue GMC Terrain traveling east on M-115 near Lake Station Ave in the township of Freeman in Clare County. It was reported the driver of this vehicle was driving erratically.
A Clare County road sergeant in the area observed the Terrain stopped on the shoulder of M-115 and turned to check on this vehicle. As the sergeant turned, the driver of the Terrain pulled back onto the roadway and sped off at a high rate of speed, officials said. The sergeant observed several traffic infractions caused by the driver and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Terrain, officials said.
The driver, later identified as Elmer Rafael Vicente Vicente, 43, a citizen of Guatemala who had been living in Mount Pleasant, initially stopped and waited for the deputy to exit his patrol vehicle, officials said. As the sergeant approached Vicente Vicente, he sped away from the stop, officials said.
The sergeant returned to his vehicle and pursued Vicente Vicente, who reached speeds of up to 130 mph.
During the pursuit, Vicente Vicente traveled onto eastbound US-10 until he reached US-127, where he merged to travel north, officials said. Once on north US-127, a Clare County deputy was able to use spike strips to deflate Vicente Vicente’s tires, disabling his vehicle on North US-127 near the Mannsiding Road overpass, officials said.
When Vicente Vicente’s vehicle was no longer operational, he exited his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, however he was quickly taken into custody, officials said.
Once in custody, Vicente Vicente began kicking and hitting his head against the partition of a patrol vehicle, causing damage, officials said.
Vicente Vicente was charged with one count of Police Officer Flee and Elude 4th degree, one count of Malicious Destruction of Police Property, six counts of Resisting and Obstructing the Police, one count of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated and one count of Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a License.
There is also a hold placed on Vicente Vicente with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as he is not a citizen of the United States.