Man who crashed truck into tree charged with fleeing, assaulting pregnant woman.

Alexander

Man who crashed truck into tree charged with fleeing, assaulting pregnant woman.

#MasonCountyCrime.

LUDINGTON — A Ludington man, who crashed a pickup truck into a tree while allegedly fleeing from the police is facing up to five years in prison for fleeing a police officer third degree. He has also been charged with assaulting a pregnant woman and domestic violence.

Michael Allen Alexander, 24, of 308 E. Court Street, Apt. 1, was arraigned last week in 79th District Court. The charges stem from a March 20, 2018 when Ludington Police Department was dispatched to the 1100 block of Pineway Street at Pineway Apartments for a report of a domestic assault. The alleged victim, a 32-year-old woman, had left the complex prior to police arriving and went to a relative’s house in the 800 block of North James Street. Alexander, the alleged assailant, followed the victim to the James Street house and was trying to enter the home, according to police reports.

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According to Ludington Police Capt. Mike Harrie, the man left in a pickup truck as police arrived. He then drove the truck into a tree in the 900 block of North James Street. Hydraulic rescue tools from Ludington Police Department were used to extricate Alexander from the truck. He was then transported by Life EMS ambulance to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital and then flown to a Grand Rapids trauma center by helicopter. Alexander told MCP in a Facebook message that he was in the hospital until March 28.

Fleeing a police officer third degree is a felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine. The charge is made when a driver of a motor vehicle is given a signal by a uniformed law enforcement officer— by hand, voice, emergency light, siren or visual or audible signal — directing the driver to bring his or her motor vehicle to a stop. The person shall not willfully fail to obey the direction by increasing the speed of the vehicle, extinguishing the lights of the motor vehicle, or otherwise attempting to flee or elude the officer.

Third degree is added to the charges when the violation results in a collision or accident; a portion of the violation occurred in an area where the speed limit is 35 mph or less; or the individual has a prior conviction of fourth degree fleeing and eluding, attempted fourth degree fleeing and eluding and eluding, or fleeing and eluding under a current or former law of Michigan prohibiting substantially similar conduct.

The charge of knowingly assaulting or assault and battery of a pregnant individual, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine. Domestic violence is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days imprisonment and/or a $500 fine.

Under the terms of his pretrial release, Alexander is not to have contact with the victim or enter the premise of the James Street house. He must also have a domestic violence evaluation; avoid using alcohol or illegal controlled substances, and must participate in substance abuse testing or monitoring program.

Full bail was set at $10,000 and a preliminary examination is scheduled in 79th District Court for April 18 at 11:15 a.m.

A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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