BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich — A 36-year-old Indiana man is accused of leading officers on a multi-county high-speed chase that ended in a crash this weekend.
The Berrien County Sheriff's Office said on the way to the hospital, the man damaged the patrol vehicle all while trying to assault the deputy.
Law enforcement in Holland tried to stop Matthew Lee Mensch, of Coatesville, Ind. He was wanted for aggravated stalking, violating bond and fleeing from police charges.
Mensch is accused of running from that stop in Ottawa County in a gray Kia. Minutes later, Berrien County deputies took over the chase.
Authorities accuse Mensch of driving recklessly through Berrien County southbound on M-63 -at times driving into oncoming traffic and disregarding traffic signs.
Coloma Twp. Police attempted to use stop sticks to flatten a tire and stop Mensch. One tire was successfully deflated, but he continued on.
The chase continued southbound through St. Joseph, Stevensville and Bridgman.
In Chikaming Twp. a deputy used more stop sticks which flattened two more tires on the Kia. The car went off the road and crashed. Nobody else was injured in the crash.
Mensch was arrested and received medical attention on scene. He was then brought to a nearby hospital.
On the way to the hospital, law enforcement said Mensch damaged a deputy's patrol vehicle as he attempted to assault the arresting deputy.
Mensch has since been released from the hospital and brought to the Berrien County Jail.
He faces a number of charges in both Berrien and Ottawa Counties, including resisting police, damaging police equipment, fleeing police and OWI.
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