Royal Oak Police Track Car Thief Suspect Through Footprints In The Snow

ROYAL OAK, MI — A car thief suspect led Royal Oak police on a foot chase through snow covered back yards, before he was ultimately apprehended, according to a police report.

Witnesses alerted Royal Oak police of a suspicious man in dark clothes tampering with vehicles in the area of Charlotte Ave. and Woodside Rd. on Jan. 10 at 3:04 a.m. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered the suspect was nowhere in sight. However, there were fresh footprints in the snow, which officers followed all the way to a parked 2004 Ford FreeStar, which was later determined to be reported stolen from Oak Park.

As officers followed the fresh footprints through several backyards, they spotted the suspect running through a backyard near Gardner and Rochester Rd. Police apprehended and arrested the suspect.

The man was identified as 26-year-old Christopher Rockne Straw of Fraser. The suspect was found to have a valid felony warrant and was recently discharged from State parole. Further investigation revealed the suspect traveled to the area in the stolen 2004 Ford and was in possession of items known to be stolen from several vehicle larcenies.

Straw faces a whole litany of charges: one count of Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property-Motor Vehicle (a five year felony), one count of Financial Transaction Device-Stealing/Retaining without Consent (a four year felony), one count Police Officer-Resisting/Obstructing (a two year felony), and one count of Attempt-Breaking & Entering –A Vehicle to Steal Property Less than $200.00 (a 90 day misdemeanor).

Straw was arraigned in the 44th District Court by the Honorable Jamie Wittenberg, and given a $27,500.00-no ten percent bond. He is due back in court on Jan. 20 at 8:30 a.m.

If you have any information about the case, call the Royal Oak Police at 248-246- 3500 or Detective Tim Wood at 248-246- 3519.

Photo courtesy of the Royal Oak police