Gunman in Sterling Hts. crashed car surrenders

A gunman who held police at bay for more than an hour from an overturned car after a police chase in Sterling Heights has surrendered peacefully.

Lt. Mike Shaw, a spokesman for the Michigan State Police, said Tuesday the case will be forwarded to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office for its review.

The chase started on 22 Mile near Gratiot when police attempted a traffic stop, MSP said. The driver then drove to M-59 to Interstate 94 then 16 Mile before crashing, police tweeted.

MSP said the suspect had lost control of his car during a police chase and “drove vehicle in ditch causing it to overturn.” The driver landed upside down in his car, police said, and threatened to shoot officers when they attempted to arrest him.

Photos of the scene show a man’s upturned hand outside the car window that’s upside down on the ground as police stand nearby as the man prepares to emerge from the window in surrender.

A MSP negotiator was at the scene of the standoff that began before 11 p.m. at Metro Parkway and Schoenherr and had been “actively negotiating with the suspect,” another tweet said.

Police and emergency personnel remained on the scene early Tuesday, blocking traffic and working to lift the crumpled car onto a tow bed across the intersection from Bethesda Christian Church. Some officers checked the nearby shrubbery with flashlights. The car was cleared about 12:30 a.m.

“Great news!! Suspect is in custody without further incident,” said a MSP tweet late Monday. “Great job by all the troopers and local officers on the peaceful outcome.”

Charles McGrath, who lives down the street and rushed to the scene after learning about the chase from his daughter and social media, snapped photos on his phone.

"Too close to home," he said while watching the crews on the side of the road.

News of the incident and driver's surrender was "very surprising," he added. "He had to get hurt."