THE father of a five-day-old baby who went missing but was found unharmed with his grandmother faces charges for damaging cop cars. Jeffrey Michael Smith Sr. was arrested on Saturday after resisting police and fleeing the scene of an alleged domestic assault incident, Michigan State Police said in a release on Sunday. The 25-year-old was […]
THE father of a five-day-old baby who went missing but was found unharmed with his grandmother faces charges for damaging cop cars.
Jeffrey Michael Smith Sr. was arrested on Saturday after resisting police and fleeing the scene of an alleged domestic assault incident, Michigan State Police said in a release on Sunday.
The 25-year-old was charged with fleeing, eluding, resisting, and obstructing officers from the state police department and the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s office, according to the release obtained by MLive.
Authorities launched a search for little Jeffrey Michael Smith Jr. at around 6:30 am Saturday after cops believed he was with his biological father and in danger.
The newborn was thought to be at risk after Smith Sr. made comments about harming his baby son.
Michigan State Police made an appeal to help trace the newborn and Smith Sr., who has active warrants for his arrest.
The infant was found unharmed and in the care of his maternal grandmother at her home in Newton Township, according to the release.
Smith wasn’t initially present at the scene, MLive reported.
While officers waited for the baby’s mother, who was the alleged victim of the domestic assault, Smith drove up to the scene but refused to cooperate with cops, the release said.
That’s when he drove away and reportedly crashed into an unoccupied police car, damaging the vehicle.
State troopers didn’t immediately pursue Smith when he left the scene, but he was chased by police in the area, according to the release.
A Kalamazoo County state trooper noticed Smith’s car and tried to make a traffic stop.
But after Smith pulled over and the officer followed behind, he put his vehicle in reverse and smashed into the patrol car, rendering both cars stuck.
Cops arrested Smith, who wasn’t injured, and took him to Kalamazoo County jail.
Police told MLive a state trooper sustained minor injuries and two MSP patrol cars were damaged in the failed escape.
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department, Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department, Emmett Township Police Department, and Battle Creek Police Department helped state troopers nab Smith Jr.
