Royal Oak Police Arrest Pair After Chase

ROYAL OAK, MI — A pair of Wayne County men have been charged with felonies after leading Royal Oak police on a chase that ended in Clawson late Sunday night. John Michael Knudsen, 38, of Livonia, and 28-year-old Dustin Michael Cline of Trenton were arraigned Wednesday at 44th District Court in Royal Oak on charges of resisting arrest, fleeing and eluding and possession of a controlled substance.

At 11:24 p.m. Sunday night, a Royal Oak officer stopped the car Knudsen and Cline were in for driving erratically on Woodward Avenue near 12 Mile Road, according to police reports. As the officer walked up to the driver, the vehicle sped away and fled into a nearby neighborhood. The duo briefly eluded police before being spotted a short time later by other Royal Oak officers in the area of Crooks Road and 12 mile Road.

The vehicle turned onto a side street and officers pursued it after the driver refused to stop, reports said. The pursuit ended in Clawson near Main Street and 14 Mile Road when the vehicle struck a curb and was disabled.

The driver and passenger ran from the vehicle but were quickly caught and arrested by pursuing officers. Officers recovered marijuana and pills from inside the vehicle. No injuries were reported.

On Wednesday, both men were arraigned. Knudsen was charged with two counts of Fleeing and Eluding a police officer – third degree, a felony which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison; one count of controlled substance – delivery/manufacture marijuana, a felony which carries a penalty of up to four years in prison; and one count of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, a felony which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison.

Knudsen’s criminal history includes convictions for unarmed robbery and Escape. His bond was set at $100,000 cash/surety. Reports said he would need to post the full amount to be released on bail.

Cline is charged with assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, a felony which carries a penalty of up to two (2) years in prison. Cline’s criminal history includes a misdemeanor conviction for allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle and his bond was set at $5,000 cash/surety, with a 10 percent bail provision.

Knudsen and Cline’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 18, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. in the 44th District Court in Royal Oak.

Photos courtesy of the Royal Oak Police Department