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Man leads police on 26-mile chase after attempting to kidnap ex-wife in Van Buren Township

Carl Travis attempted to abduct woman who has personal protection order against him, police say

A man, identified as Carl Travis, attempts to flee from police on foot in Detroit after crashing during a police chase that began in Van Buren Township on Aug. 5, 2022. Footage provided by authorities. (Van Buren Township Police)

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A man was arrested Friday night after fleeing police by car for more than 26 miles, and then trying to get away on foot following a violent incident in Van Buren Township.

On the night of Friday, Aug. 5, police say a man named Carl Travis showed up to an apartment in Van Buren Township where his ex-wife was. A man inside the apartment called 911 and earnestly demanded help, as Travis was attempting to drag his ex-wife by her hair to his car, officials said.

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“He says he’s going to shoot her in the face,” the man said of Travis on the call. Police say the woman Travis was attempting to abduct has a personal protection order against him.

As Van Buren Township police responded to the incident near I-94 and Denton Road, Travis is said to have jumped into a SUV and taken off. Police chased Travis as he weaved in-and-out of traffic on eastbound I-94 for about 26 miles until the man crashed his vehicle in Detroit, officials report.

Once Travis’ vehicle crashed, the man attempted to flee on foot. Body camera footage showed an officer tasing Travis amid the pursuit on foot, but the man continued running after that.

You can see footage from the car chase and foot chase in the video report above.

The man was ultimately apprehended by police.

Travis was arraigned on Monday on charges of unlawful imprisonment, fleeing and alluding, obstruction, domestic violence and reckless driving. He is being held on a $500,000 bond.


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Cassidy Johncox is a senior digital news editor covering stories across the spectrum, with a special focus on politics and community issues.

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Pamela Osborne is thrilled to be back home at the station she grew up watching! You can watch her on Local 4 News Sundays and weeknights. Pamela joined the WDIV News Team in February 2022, after working at stations in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

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