Detroit Police Chief Craig warns I-94 donut driver: We will find you

Detroit — Police Chief James Craig has a message for the brazen motorists who blocked all lanes of westbound Interstate 94 on Sunday night to have a "side-show" with 360-degree turns: Police are coming for you.

Craig said Monday at a press conference outside Public Safety Headquarters that the vehicle seen on a social media website video driving in circles across all lanes of I-94 near Trumbull around 8:10 p.m. was a red or orange Camaro, with tinted windows, a black gas cap and aftermarket rims.

The video shows cars backed up behind parked vehicles, while the Camaro spins with its tires screeching and several people stand nearby recording video.

Craig estimated the freeway was illegally blocked for 10-15 minutes during the incident. Some 911 calls about the incident came into Michigan State Police dispatch, Craig said.

Craig said the driver of the Camaro resides outside of Detroit. The Camaro's license plate has a despicable message for the DPD, Craig said.

"Here is my message to them: We are going to find you. When we do, we are going to arrest you and seize your vehicle," Craig said.

Meanwhile, Detroit police released the name and mug shot of a suspect in custody who allegedly struck a pedestrian in a similar "360-case" on Nov. 10 that left a pedestrian critically injured.

Detroit police said suspect Tommie Mahone faces two felony counts in the incident, which happened near Hubbard and West Grand Boulevard: failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing serious impairment or death, and reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function.

Mahone was arraigned Monday in 36th District Court. No further information was available Monday night.

Craig said Mahone allegedly participated in the I-94 incident by blocking traffic in a late-model Dodge Challenger, , Craig said.

The charges issued Monday do not related to the incident with the Camaro, Craig said.

"So for those who are watching who think this activity does not pose a significant threat," Craig said, "these are felony counts up to five years."

"This is a significant public safety issue," Craig said, saying there have been other victims of other "side-shows."

Craig said he believes the incident on I-94 is connected to a similar incident in July on the Lodge Freeway in which drivers blocked the freeway to do donuts.

Craig said his department is working with Michigan State Police to use the state's helicopter to help with enforcement of traffic-related offenses, as part of a recently launched program aimed at curbing drag racing and the illegal use of off-road vehicles.

jchambers@detroitnews.com

article by Jennifer Chambers | The Detroit News | Published 3:19 p.m. ET Dec. 23, 2019 | Updated 11:47 p.m. ET Dec. 23, 2019

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