Alleged Car Thief Rams Mich. Police Cruiser Before Standoff

By Oralandar Brand-Williams

Source The Detroit News

A Detroit man who led Southfield police on a brief chase this week in a stolen SUV was found with an AK-47 and is believed to be part of a stolen-vehicle ring operating in southeast Michigan, police said Thursday.

Rayven Thomas-Stephan-Lamont Bibbs, 21, of Detroit, was arrested after the incident Tuesday and arraigned Thursday on 11 counts including stolen vehicle and weapons charges.

Bibbs and three other people, a man and two women, were taken into custody after police stopped a 2021 Dodge Durango Hellcat at an apartment complex near the Lodge and Nine Mile Road. It was reported stolen in Fenton on July 4.

Bibbs drove a short distance away from police after he was stopped, according to police. Following a brief pursuit, the SUV was boxed in by police on North Park Drive, just outside the apartment building, using a tactical maneuver that prevented the SUV from moving.

Dashcam video of the incident was shown during a news conference Thursday with Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren and other police officials at the Southfield Police Department.

The video shows officers ordering Bibbs and the others out of the vehicle multiple times during a six-minute standoff before all four got out of the Durango with their hands up. They were taken into custody.

The AK-47 was found on the floorboard of the front passenger seat, said Southfield Deputy Police Chief Jeffrey Jagielski. Police also found masks and stolen license plates in the vehicle. The Durango had a stolen Ohio license plate on it, Barren said.

Barren praised his police officers at the scene for their expertise in using the "pit maneuver performed with precision" and avoiding a longer pursuit.

"It's very important where there is a standoff to exercise patience...to give suspects time to comply," said Barren. He praised how officers handled the incident and the arrests saying it "is another testament of the professionalism of the men and women of the Southfield Police Department."

Barren said automakers should take note of how easy it is to take some of the popular vehicles, noting that some vehicles can be stolen using laptops.

The case remains under investigation. The other individuals had not been charged as of Thursday.

Bibbs faces charges of receiving/concealing stolen vehicle, thirdfleeing police, carrying a concealed weapon, firearm possession by a felon, felony firearm, felonious assault, two counts of resisting/assaulting a police officer, two counts of malicious destruction of police or fire department property and driving with a suspended license.

Southfield District Court Magistrate Medina Noor set Bibbs' bond at $500,000 cash surety. Noor also ordered him to wear a tether if he posts the bond and is released.

___

Visit The Detroit News at www.detnews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.