Mich. Police Upset Parolee who Sparked Chase Out on Personal Bond

A 26-year-old man with a criminal record who led Wyandotte police on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash in Detroit has been set free on a personal bond.

The incident began at 3:20 a.m. Oct. 21, in the area of Seventh Street and Cherry, after an officer spotted a vehicle "prowling around" the neighborhood.

According to police, the driver, identified as Tobias James Catron, observed the officer and quickly accelerated to a high rate of speed. What the officer didn't know at the time was that the vehicle was stolen. According to Wyandotte police, the driver was recently released from prison on parole and had a history of violence.

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver kept going. Wyandotte officers pursued Catron at high speeds through the cities of Wyandotte, Lincoln Park and Detroit.

The pursuit ended when the driver lost control of his vehicle and struck a light pole near Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit. Officers quickly placed Catron under arrest.

Catron was video arraigned on Oct. 23 in front of Magistrate Rodney Johnson of the 36th District Court in Detroit. Since the arraignment took place on a Sunday, the "on-call" judge performed the arraignment, instead of the 27th District Court in Wyandotte.

The magistrate gave Catron a personal bond, which allowed him to walk free without posting any money.

Wyandotte police said Catron has prior arrests for assault with the intent to murder, armed robbery, firearm offenses, fleeing the police, as well as other charges.

"He has bragged to our officers about shooting and stabbing people, only to get the charges dismissed by intimidating witnesses," Deputy Police Chief Archie Hamilton said. "Furthermore, he has boasted about always running from police at high speeds because he believes there are no consequences. And he's right! Mr. Catron is one of many criminals who know that fleeing the police in a vehicle has no consequence despite greatly endangering citizens and officers."

Hamilton questioned when lawmakers in Michigan are going to address what he believes to be a critical problem.

"Criminals are routinely fleeing from the police in vehicles simply because our laws for this type of offense are inadequate," he said. "It's election time and we all are receiving dozens of unwanted mailers from politicians who claim that they have the best interest of the citizens in mind. However, none of them are taking steps to resolve the lawlessness that we are seeing daily in regards to high-speed pursuits. The answer is not to restrict our police from pursuing, but to motivate the criminals not to run by greatly enhancing the penalty."

Hamilton complimented the Wyandotte officers for doing the job they did in pursuing and capturing Catron, but said that in this instance the magistrate "dropped the ball."

"A personal bond is an absolute insult to the officers who risked their personal safety to capture this criminal," Hamilton said. "Moreover, the magistrate's decision puts every citizen at greater risk in the future."

Hamilton said Catron has been charged with fleeing and eluding police, which is a felony. Charges regarding the stolen vehicle are pending.

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