ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Two Detroit men who led Michigan State Police on a high-speed chase Tuesday were charged in connection with wheel and tire thefts in Royal Oak.
Deshawn Shelton Gardner and Jeffrey Lamont Miller are accused of stealing wheels and tires Tuesday morning in the 500 block of S. Wilson Avenue and the 1900 block of Brockton Avenue.
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Police said Gardner, Miller and another man, who was arrested before the chase, have been tied to tire and rim thefts all around Metro Detroit for the past two years.
A task force that had been tracking the thieves caught them in the act Tuesday near Lincoln Avenue and Campbell Road in Royal Oak.
High-speed chase
When officers tried to make an arrest, Gardner and Miller took off in a stolen SUV, running into a Michigan State Police car and leading officers on a chase that reached speeds over 100 mph.
The chase ended in Southfield when the stolen SUV rolled over and went through a parking lot fence near 9 Mile and Greenfield roads. One of the men was thrown from the SUV, and the other man was trapped underneath. They were taken to the hospital for treatment.
No officers were hurt, but the MSP car rammed by the SUV was damaged.
Detroit men charged
Gardner is charged with receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, two counts of larceny from a motor vehicle and driving with a suspended license. He faces up to 10 years in prison for the first charge, five years in prison for each of the larceny charges and up to one year behind bars for the suspended license charge.
Miller is charged with two counts of larceny from a motor vehicle, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Gardner is being held on $75,000 bail. Miller is being held on $50,000 bail.
Gardner has prior convictions for larceny from a motor vehicle, unlawful driving away an automobile, receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, concealing/misrepresenting a motor vehicle with intent to mislead, assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer and operating without a license on person.
Miller has prior convictions for attempted receiving and concealing of stolen property, receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, attempted larceny from a motor vehicle, concealing/misrepresenting a motor vehicle with intent to mislead, possession of marijuana, operating while impaired and driving with a suspended license.
Gardner and Miller are scheduled to return to court Sept. 7.
Police said Gardner and Miller are being investigated in connection with the assault of a Canton police officer.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Royal Oak Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 248-246-3456.
Stay with ClickOnDetroit.com for updates.