A night of fun, fire works and great music took a 180 degree turn for law enforcement at the close of the festival.
On 6/28/2025, while deputies and police officers assigned to the Adrian Fireworks and Festival, performed foot patrols in the park greeting friendly faces and shared laughter with many. As the fireworks and festival was closing and traffic was exiting the park, deputies out on patrol made a traffic stop after a 911 call about a dangerous Careless and Imprudent driver on the interstate.
From the start of the traffic stop the driver was less than cooperative. Deputies detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from within the vehicle. The driver refused to exit the vehicle. Deputies were able to make entry into the vehicle and turned the vehicle off. The driver began resisting the deputies and a taser was deployed which failed to have effect. The driver was able to get the vehicle started again and began to drive away with the deputies partially in the vehicle. The first deputy was able to clear himself but had to grab the second deputy and pull him out as he was struck with the B-pillar of the truck. Narrowly being hung up and dragged down the interstate.
A pursuit with the truck followed traveling northbound on I49 from Passaic. The Deputies and Adrian Police Officers at the park responded to the interstate to intercept the pursuit. Every law enforcement officer knew the importance of getting the Adrian exit ramp shut down to ensure the safety of all the citizen leaving the park and heading in town or merging onto the interstate to go northbound. As the pursuit approach Adrian, the Sheriff having the largest vehicle in the fleet, drove down the exit ramp the opposite direction, prepared to use his vehicle to physically stop the fleeing vehicle from exiting into Adrian. The fleeing truck narrowly missed striking the Sheriff’s patrol vehicle head on and was forced to stay on the interstate.
As the truck crossed under the Adrian exit, he emerged on the other side to a sea of patrol vehicles preventing innocent civilians from entering the interstate. With the interstate clear of innocent people, and the appropriate amount of assistance, the Grappler Device was deployed. The Grappler did its job and brought the pursuit to a stop. The driver was extracted from his vehicle where he continue to resist arrest. After a short scuffle the driver was taken into custody.
The Driver, from Oklahoma, will be identified once formal charges are filed.
Sheriff Anderson says, “This is exactly why law enforcement is important to our community. This is exactly why we build positive relationships with our other law enforcement partners, like Adrian PD. Deputies who were foot patrolling a family festival, who were there for Community Policing, responded as a team to protect the families trying to get home after a night of celebrating our great country’s freedom. Had those deputies and officers not been there, the driver, who attempted to exit at Adrian, would have most certainly killed a family. This person showed absolutely no remorse for his actions after his arrest. He was an absolute danger to the public prior to the traffic stop, assaulted the Deputy and became even more of a danger to the hundreds of innocent people leaving the festival all because of his actions. He picked the wrong night, the wrong county and chose the wrong direction to run. I’m extremely proud of the men and women who work in law enforcement throughout this county. This incident highlights how fast a law enforcement officers night can change from laughing and enjoying our community to the very dangerous work we do.”
