High-speed chase in Southfield ends in arrest following homicide, larcenies

SOUTHFIELD — Police were notified at 2:42 a.m. Oct. 18 that a wanted vehicle had entered the city of Southfield.

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee had been stolen in Southfield Oct. 6. It was identified as being involved in a homicide in Detroit Oct. 11 and a larceny in Garden City Oct. 17.

Southfield police located the vehicle on the southbound Lodge Freeway, near Northland Drive.

“The officers attempted to box the vehicle in. However, the driver, identified as suspect No. 1, swerved out of the way, striking our patrol vehicle, and continued fleeing,” Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren stated. “The vehicle continued southbound on the Lodge. Due to the vehicle and its occupants being wanted out of the city of Detroit for a pending homicide, and in the best interest of public safety, our officers made intentional contact with that vehicle near Puritan Avenue on the Lodge Freeway, which ended the pursuit.”

He added that the vehicle was reaching speeds of over 100 mph. The Southfield Police Department utilized a vehicle immobilizing maneuver to stop and arrest the three suspects.

Southfield officers recovered a stolen 9 mm handgun with an extended magazine underneath the driver’s seat that was reported stolen in Redford Aug. 14.

The driver was identified as 20-year-old Detroit resident Brandon Vanarn Flowers. Flowers was charged with carrying a concealed weapon,  felony firearm, and fleeing and eluding.

Barren said that Flowers’ criminal history dates back to 2021 with weapon offenses, forgery, and receiving and concealing stolen property charges. He is also listed as a suspect in a pending homicide. He was given a $10,000 cash or surety bond.

The front seat passenger was identified as 19-year-old Southfield resident Vernon John Phalen Jr. Phalen was turned over to the Garden City Police Department and was charged with breaking and entering, carrying a concealed weapon, felony firearm, larceny from a building, and possession of a converted firearm.

Phlaen was given a $100,000 cash or surety bond. His criminal history dates back to 2022 for weapons offenses, robbery and felony firearms.

The third suspect was an unidentified 18-year-old Detroit resident in the custody of the Detroit Police Department in connection to a homicide. He does not have a criminal history.

Attorneys for the suspects could not be reached for comment by press time.

“These things are very important to assure our community. When you have a police pursuit, there are risks associated with those. One thing the Southfield Police Department tries to do is use different techniques to minimize risk in public,” Barren said. He explained that boxing-in techniques, intentional contact, and PIT maneuvers, are tactics used to minimize risk to the public.

“We’re not going to let an opportunity go past where individuals are wanted for homicide, and not give that family a chance at closure. And so again, I’m proud of the work that the men and women of the Southfield Police Department continue to do. And these agencies are also very thankful of our officers for helping them solve some of their crimes.”