Fleeing motorist found hiding in garage

A 22-year-old Rochester Hills man suspected of drunken driving on Wednesday night, January 17, who fled from sheriff's deputies during a traffic stop, was found hiding in the back of a stranger's vehicle in the 2300 block of Gravel Ridge Road in Rochester Hills, authorities said.

Oakland County sheriff's deputies in the area of Auburn and John R roads who observed a green Ford Ranger driving carelessly stopped the driver after witnessing the vehicle sideswipe a parked car in the 100 block of E. Auburn Road.

Deputies said the man indicated that he had been drinking and was asked to perform several sobriety tests. When the tests were completed, the driver was asked to submit to a preliminary breath test at a deputy's car. The man then allegedly began walking to the patrol car, but instead ran away from the deputies.

Deputies pursued the man on foot, but lost sight of him. A K-9 deputy was called to the scene to assist and tracked the man to a garage in the 2300 block of Gravel Ridge Road. The homeowner allowed the deputies into the garage and the man was found hiding in the trunk area of a vehicle in the garage.

Authorities said the man was ordered to come out of the vehicle, but didn't comply, at which point the K-9 deputy was released and began pulling on the man's jacket.

"The subject began to resist and began yelling that he wanted to fight with deputies," Oakland County Undersheriff Michael McCabe said in a news release. "The subject was eventually restrained, taken to the ground and handcuffed without further incident."

The man was transported to McLaren Hospital where he consented to a chemical blood test before being taken to the Oakland County Jail and booked in connection with operating while intoxicated (second offense) and resisting and obstructing a law enforcement officer.