Police: License plate violation results in flight, fight and arrest

WARREN — A Detroit driver who allegedly fought and fled Warren police was arraigned in 37th District Court on March 18 and charged with three felony counts.

Romero Austin-Folson, 27, was charged with one count of fleeing and eluding third-degree, a five-year-felony, and two counts of assaulting and resisting an officer, a two-year-felony.

On March 16 at approximately 4:50 p.m. near Eight Mile Road and Ryan Road, Warren police made a traffic stop on a gold Chevrolet Malibu for driving without a license plate. Austin-Folson, the driver, was allegedly uncooperative with officers, fled the scene, struck an officer and “possibly” ran over an officer’s foot, said Warren police in a written statement.

A vehicle pursuit ensued in Detroit, ending near Eight Mile and Russell Avenue, police reported. When Austin-Folson was stopped again, according to police, he fought with officers a second time. The officers took him into custody after deploying a Taser.

Officers conducted a search and canvassed the area with police K-9s for a gun which they believed the driver may have discarded during the pursuit. No gun was found.

The officers involved in the initial traffic stop did not require medical attention, a press release from the Warren Police Department stated. No pedestrians or motorists were hurt during the incident. However, an officer responding to the scene to assist in the traffic stop and pursuit was involved in a crash, transported to a nearby hospital and is now back to work, police said.

Austin-Folson has multiple open suspensions on his driver’s license and prior contacts for fleeing the police, the release said.

Austin-Folson’s attorney of record is Paul Stockyj, who, according to his office, declined comment on the case.

Judge Steven Bieda entered a “not guilty” plea for Austin-Folson and set bond at $100,000 cash or surety only.

Austin-Folson remained in the Macomb County Jail after a probable cause conference on March 26 before Judge Michael C. Chupa in the 37th District Court, where, according to court records, he waived his right to a preliminary examination and was ordered bound over for trial in Macomb County Circuit Court.