By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Two Niles residents were arrested Thursday morning following a police chase through town.
Andrew Joseph Blankenship, 25, of 328 Michigan St., Niles, and a 17-year-old minor suspect allegedly fled police in a white Suburban during the early morning hours on Thursday, June 29.
A Niles Police report states officers were dispatched to Fourth and Maple streets because a man was calling for help. At the scene, officers observed a white Chevy Suburban, which allegedly "took off at a high rate of speed" north on Third Street from Maple Street after seeing the officer, the report states.
Niles Police Chief Ric Huff said the original call was a report of malicious destruction of property for a man allegedly stabbing a knife into the tires of a vehicle parked at 534 Michigan Street. The suspect driving the Suburban did not match the description of the MDOP suspect, Huff said.
He added both incidents happened "within minutes" of one another but the events are not believed to be connected and are not being investigated together.
The report states the Suburban continued east on Broadway allegedly traveling at speeds of 40 to 50 mph, and allegedly driving through yield signs, stop signs and turn right only signs without slowing down.
After heading east on Broadway, the report states the Suburban turned north on 15th Street, where a City of Niles Street Department truck with a utility trailer on back was blocking the street to paint crosswalks.
The reports states the Suburban allegedly "jumped the curb" on the west side of 15th Street, "just missing the rear of the trailer." The Suburban then turned back onto the road and allegedly drove over the curb on the east side of 15th Street and onto the sidewalk, the report states.
The Suburban allegedly continued north on the sidewalk and stopped in front of 315 N. 15th St., the report states. The passenger in the vehicle, a minor, reportedly exited the vehicle and allegedly fled east on foot through the backyard of 315 N. 15th St.
The report states the driver had nowhere to go and allegedly exited the vehicle and stood next to it.
The driver was allegedly told several times by officers to "get down". The report states the driver dropped the keys to the vehicle and was "taken down at gunpoint".
According to the report, the driver allegedly pulled his left arm away while being handcuffed.
The report states the second suspect was apprehended by a Michigan State Trooper at East Side Park, several blocks east of where the Suburban stopped.
Blankenship was arrested Thursday, June 29 at 4:13 a.m. for allegedly fleeing and eluding, fighting police, driving with a suspended license and operating while intoxicated.
The minor suspect was charged with resisting and obstructing police.
Huff said two Niles Police officers and one Trooper responded to the incident. No injuries were reported, Huff said.