Macomb Co. Officers Rescue Man Who Drove SUV Into Pond: Police

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI — A group of Macomb County officers are being called heroes after rescuing a man who drove an SUV into a pond on New Year’s Eve, according to police.

The incident happened at 2 a.m. on New Year's Eve at the Harbours Apartment Complex on Bayview near Heydenreich and Hall Roads in Clinton Township, according to police.

When officers arrived, they found an SUV floating in the middle of a pond, according to police.

Officers also saw a man was in the driver's seat, according to police.

Sgt. Bates noticed the front end of the SUV was slowly starting to sink and told the driver to exit the vehicle, but he would not come out, according to police.

Bates then jumped into the freezing waters "without hesitation" and swam to the SUV, according to police.

When he got to the driver’s side door, he saw the man moving around inside the SUV, but he still wouldn't come toward the open window, according to police.

Bates yelled to the man to get out, but the man still wouldn't respond, according to police.

As the SUV began to rapidly sink with the open window almost completely submerged, Bates reached inside and pulled the driver from under the water and out of the window, according to police.

Bates placed the driver onto a life jacket and held onto a rescue rope as other officers pulled him and the driver to safety, according to police.

As soon as Bates pulled the driver from the SUV, the vehicle sank to the bottom of the pond and was completely submerged, according to police.

Police did not say what caused the man to drive into the pond. It was not immediately clear if alcohol or drugs played a role.

Police did not identify the man.

"We are extremely proud of the actions taken by all officers of Platoon C, but without the heroic actions of Sgt. Bates the driver may have suffered a fatal outcome. Job Well Done," police said.