Police Arrest Two Men After Pursuit Ends in Crash

Two men are in jail after crashing into a ditch during a police pursuit following the alleged attempted theft of a Trenton resident’s truck and boat in the early morning hours of Sept. 25.

According to Woodhaven police, the driver, Paul Kemps, 18, of Detroit was charged with carjacking, fleeing and eluding police, receiving or taking stolen property, assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of resisting or obstructing a police officer.

The passenger, Arthur Tuck, 18, also of Detroit, was charged with one count of resisting and obstructing a police officer.

A patrol officer of the said he was patrolling the 4100 block of Westphal Street at about 3:30 a.m. when he saw a white male walk down a resident’s driveway and get into a Chrysler Sebring parked at the end of the driveway.

The officer saw another white male in the driver’s seat of the Sebring and checked the license plate for the car. According to the officer the plate did not match the residence in which the car was parked.

After the Sebring had left the area the officer drove by the residence on Westphal again and noticed the driver’s side window of a white Jeep Cherokee was broken out and glass was lying next to the truck.

The officer said he immediately radioed to other Trenton patrol cars and advised them of the situation. The Woodhaven Police Department agreed to assist in the search for the Sebring.

An officer from the Woodhaven Police Department told Trenton police he saw the Sebring and attempted to pull the car over, but the driver refused to stop.

Woodhaven police began a police pursuit and the driver of the Sebring crashed the car into a ditch on the on-ramp to I-75 south near West Road.

Woodhaven police arrested the two men in the parking lot after Kemps allegedly carjacked a Detroit Free Press van and crashed it into a fuel pump.

According to Trenton police, the men refused to cooperate and would not identify themselves. They were being held at the Woodhaven Police Department until they could be identified.

Police contacted the owner of the Jeep Cherokee and learned the truck's steering column was broken and the ignition was lying on the floor. A 19-foot Four Winns boat and trailer were attached to the truck.

A preliminary examination of the evidence has been scheduled for Oct. 11 at the 33rd District Court in Woodhaven.

The men are currently in Wayne County Jail.

No one was injured in the crash.

For questions on the police blotter, email natestemen@patch.com.