KALAMAZOO, Mich. — An early morning string of crimes is being blamed on one person who led police on a pair of pursuits and crashed into multiple cruisers before being arrested.
Kalamazoo County deputies were called to 28th Street near Gull Road around 1:45 a.m. in Richland Township for a car being stolen.
Deputies found the suspect, Christopher Vandenburg, still at the scene and ordered him to surrender. Instead, officials say the man drove off in the car he was allegedly stealing. Deputies followed the vehicle, which the Sheriff's Office says could not find the exit, so instead the suspect drove through a fence. He managed to escape from deputies into the night.
Less than two hours later, at 3:10 a.m., deputies were called to the intersection of 28th Street and D Avenue for an active home invasion. As deputies drove to that scene, they spotted the same vehicle driving away from the home.
A second pursuit ensued, with the chase going down M-89. That's when Vandenburg allegedly pulled a U-turn, hitting one of the pursuing patrol cruisers.
The suspect then reversed into another cruiser before jumping out of the car and running for it. Deputies managed to chase him down.
The man and one deputy were treated for injuries.
Investigators say Vandenburg also had stolen mail inside the vehicle and had multiple warrants for his arrest. He was also out on bond for a previous braking and entering charge, per the Sheriff's Office.
31-year-old Vandenburg was charged Tuesday with unauthorized driving away of an automobile. Bond was set at $5,000 cash or surety. He's due back in court on May 21.
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