HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — What started as a police call about a disorderly person in a retail store ended with a 29-year-old Holland man in Ottawa County Jail awaiting multiple charges, according to Ottawa County Sheriff’s Sgt. Matt Wildfong.
Along the way, the suspect led police on a chase from the northside into Holland’s Midtown, with periodic crashes.
It started with police being called just before 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, to handle a disorderly man who was throwing items and destroying some articles inside Dunham’s Sporting Goods, 12339 James St., Wildfong said. The man left before police arrived, but returned to the store while deputies were still there.
In the parking lot, the suspect drove his car at the officers, Wildfong said, then led police on a chase along both northbound and southbound U.S. 31, changing directions by driving through the median and otherwise driving erratically — attempting to hit police cruisers and civilian cars, Wildfong said. In one case, he said, the suspect did ram a civilian car, injuring the other driver.
The chase continued into the city of Holland, with Holland police officers assisting the deputies. The suspect ended up in the parking lot of St. Francis de Sales Church, 171 W. 13th St., in Holland, Wildfong said, and again attempted to ram other vehicles, hitting a parked car, then a police vehicle.
The suspect was taken into custody at that point, without incident. Neither he nor any police officers were injured, Wildfong said, and the civilian driver hurt suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The case remains under investigation; the suspect’s name will not be released until after arraignment.
