CRIME

Road rage probed on N. Telegraph involving car, pickup

Dean Cousino
The Monroe News
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A Newport man and a female passenger were alleged victims of road rage that happened while they were driving in a 2020 Dodge Ram pickup with three small children Saturday night in Frenchtown Township.

As they were leaving McDonald’s restaurant on N. Telegraph Rd. about 7 p.m., the man, 33, told Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies he was cut off by a black older model Ford Taurus containing two white males. Both vehicles headed north on Telegraph and the pickup passed the Taurus.

As they approached the LaSalle Rd. intersection, the Taurus passed the pickup at a high rate of speed. Both vehicles continued north on Telegraph and stopped at the Newport Rd. intersection, where the passenger exited the Taurus and threw a full bottle of Mountain Dew at the driver side door, a deputy’s report said. Then the driver exited the car, grabbed a pole from the side of the roadway and struck the front hood of the truck, leaving a large dent on the hood. The driver threw the pole at the truck’s windshield before both suspects re-entered the Taurus and fled north on Telegraph, the report said.

The driver of the pickup told deputies he was upset and confronted the driver and told him that there were three children in the truck. He described the suspects as both in their 20s, with dark hair and a slender build. The passenger had medium-length hair and some facial hair.

Wheels, tires stolen from pickup at dealership

Someone stole two wheels and tires from a 2021 Ford F-150 pickup while it was parked at the Friendly Ford dealership in Frenchtown Township Sunday.

The theft occurred between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday at the dealership located at 2800 N. Telegraph Rd., a deputy’s report said. Both wheels were removed from the passenger side of the pickup. Employees found a small hydraulic jack underneath the pickup and removed the other tires so the vehicle wouldn’t slide off the jack. Investigators also found drops of blood on the ground near the front passenger side wheel area within a few feet of the jack. Samples of the blood were sent to a Michigan State Police crime lab for further analysis, the report said.

A surveillance camera also is being checked for clues to identify who stole the wheels.

ATV stolen from residence

A gray 2021 Polaris Turbo all-terrain vehicle valued at $15,000 was stolen from in Bedford Township early Saturday.

The theft occurred in the 9500 block of Secor Rd., a deputy’s report said. The vehicle had red accents throughout the vehicle. The owner told deputies he left for work about 4:15 a.m. and when he returned about 5:30 p.m., the ATV was gone. He said the keys were still in the vehicle, but hidden.