DETROIT (WXYZ) — Detroit police say a man is in critical condition after he broke into a liquor store, took off and flipped his van. Now, it appears he may be linked to other break-ins in the metro Detroit area.
The vehicle was linked to a break-in at Big Daddy's Liquor store in Detroit.
Police pursued the man after the break-in, but once he turned on Cathedral near Greenview, just two blocks away, the van flipped. Police say the driver was ejected and pinned under the van.
Police are now investigating whether officers should have pursued.
“We are investigating right now to see if if this is indeed a pursuit or not," said Commander Arnold Williams. "The officers do have a right to attempt to stop for a very reasonable distance and if they go beyond a reasonable distance it may be outside policy, maybe it will fit policy, but at this time, we are investigating to see if it was in policy.”
The man is also a suspect in another break-in – this time, in Ferndale. A few days earlier on July 20, a van pulled into the BP gas station on Eight Mile. Moments later, the van plowed through the front door. A shirtless man was seen trying to break into the back office, but was unsuccessful. Ferndale police say he created $5,000 worth of damage. They believe the break-in is tied to another break-in in Detroit, as well as this morning's break-in.
“We discovered that Detroit had a similar B and E the same night as ours and it was the same, that van matched the description of ours and they were able to obtain a license plate and then today's incident, it was the same van and license plate," said Ferndale Police Officer Jillian Mahlmeister.
