Suspect arrested after stolen vehicle runs out of gas

HAZEL PARK/ EASTPOINTE — A woman stands accused of leading Eastpointe and Roseville police on a high-speed chase using a stolen vehicle, only for police in Hazel Park to capture her when the car ran out of gas.

The suspect is Ryann Parkes, 34, of Taylor. She was arraigned in 38th District Court in Eastpointe by Judge Kathleen Galen July 8. Parkes is charged with one count of third-degree fleeing a police officer in a vehicle, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison; one count of receiving and concealing stolen property (motor vehicle), a felony punishable by up to five years; one count of malicious destruction of fire or police property, a felony punishable by up to four years; one count of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing a police officer, a felony punishable by up to two years; one count of driving while license suspended, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days; and one count of reckless driving, also a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days.

At press time, no bond or attorney was listed for Parkes in records for the 38th District Court.

In 43rd District Court in Hazel Park, Parkes was arraigned by Magistrate Michael Mitchell July 6, where she also faces charges of third-degree fleeing a police officer in a vehicle, receiving and concealing stolen property (motor vehicle), and driving with a suspended license, as well as driving with a false ID and and failure to stop at a property damage accident — both misdemeanors punishable by up to 90 days. Her bond there was set at $10,000 cash or surety.

Parkes’ attorney in the 43rd District Court is Kerry Phillips. Phillips did not return a request for comment by press time.

According to Eastpointe Police Lt. Alexander Holish, the incident started in Eastpointe during the early hours of July 5 and concluded that night with the suspect’s capture in Hazel Park.

It was around 7 a.m. when Eastpointe officers first spotted the suspect asleep at the wheel of a gray 2017 Chrysler Pacifica in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven store at Nine Mile and Hayes roads. Police ran a check on the vehicle and saw Taylor police had reported it as stolen.

Officers ordered the suspect to exit the vehicle. That’s when she reportedly put the vehicle in drive and made a sharp turn left, driving toward them, forcing the officers to jump out of harm’s way. The suspect also allegedly struck the front push-bumper of the patrol car before fleeing the scene.

Police pursued her as she allegedly barreled toward Gratiot Avenue, reportedly driving northbound in southbound lanes at speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour. The pursuit was terminated once it reached 10 Mile Road, due to the speed of the chase and the reckless behavior of the driver.

“Pursuit was terminated for the safety of the public, which will always be the priority of the Eastpointe Police Department,” Holish said. “The Eastpointe Police Department will always do everything in our power to minimize the risk presented to innocent drivers, even if we have to temporarily allow the suspect to get away. We will continue working on cases like these and will succeed in taking the suspect into custody at a later time.”

Indeed, tips from Eastpointe police alerted Hazel Park police to the suspect vehicle. At around 8 p.m., a patrol officer in Hazel Park observed the car traveling northbound on John R Road from North Chrysler Drive. According to Hazel Park Police Chief William Hamel, officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but it accelerated and sideswiped another vehicle while fleeing police. An officer checked the affected vehicle and found no injuries.

Meanwhile, another officer pursued the suspect onto northbound Interstate 75 to 12 Mile Road and then back on southbound I-75 to Eight Mile Road. That’s when the suspect vehicle allegedly ran out of gas and slowed down. A male passenger jumped out of the vehicle prior to it coming to a stop and surrendered to officers. He has not been charged. The vehicle, meanwhile, coasted to a stop where the female driver was observed smoking a crack pipe and had to be removed from the vehicle before being placed under arrest, according to Hamel.

Hamel commended the officers for resolving the situation.

“Police officers every day are faced with making split-second decisions to engage in a pursuit of a stolen vehicle and when not to. The officer’s safety and the public safety is placed in jeopardy when criminals elect to flee from police. Technology can only assist so much when apprehending a car thief,” Hamel said via email. “It takes a well-trained officer to apprehend a car thief and prevent another car (owner) from becoming a victim. I’m proud that our officers were able to stop this individual.”