March 07--NILES -- A Buchanan man was jailed Monday after he allegedly sold crack cocaine to an undercover police officer and then fled from police, crashing his car in a ravine in Niles Township.
Taurean Tarvantei Young, 27, was arrested on several charges after being treated at Lakeland Hospital, Niles, for bumps and bruises from the crash and bites from a police dog.
Detective Lt. Robert Boyce said Young had fled on foot after crashing his car and was caught by Berrien County Sheriff's Department Deputy Marc Hopkins and his dog partner, Diesel. Boyce said the dog is trained to bite if a person is not complying with police orders. Boyce said Young's treatment for the bite wounds did not require stitches.
The incident began shortly before 5 p.m. Monday and drew in several police agencies and a fire department by the time it was over.
Boyce said the cocaine transaction took place in Bertrand Township and that, immediately after the delivery, members of the sheriff's department's Narcotics Unit and road patrol tried to apprehend Young. Boyce said Young sped away in his car north on Mayflower Road.
Young blew through a stop sign at Mayflower and Niles-Buchanan roads and his vehicle crashed through a guardrail, went airborne into a ravine, hit a tree and rolled over, Boyce said.
A 21-year-old passenger, whom police did not name, was thrown from the car. He was released after treatment at South Bend Memorial Hospital for minor injuries, police said.
Young was taken to the hospital by Southwest Michigan Community Ambulance Service and, once released after treatment, was taken to the Berrien County Jail in St. Joseph.
He faces charges of delivery of cocaine, second offense; fleeing and eluding causing bodily injury; resisting and obstructing police; driving while license suspended, second offense; and a felony probation violation.
The Narcotics Unit seized crack cocaine with a street value of $1,250 and $1,730 cash from Young, Boyce said.
The sheriff's department was assisted by state police, Buchanan police, Niles Township sheriff's department road patrol and the Niles Township Fire Department.
Copyright 2012 - The Herald-Palladium, St. Joseph, Mich.
