A 42-year-old Ortonville man was arraigned Wednesday on charges after leading a Brandon deputy on a chase along E. Glass and Granger roads recently.
Martin Lee Bruner was charged with fleeing and eluding police, as well as driving while license suspended, second or subsequent offense on Jan. 30 in front of 52-2 District Court Judge Dana Fortinberry. He remains in the Oakland County Jail on $75,000 bond, no 10 percent.
According to police reports, the deputy was on patrol on Jan. 23 around 7:27 p.m. on Ortonville Road when he observed a black GMC truck with an expired plate turn east on Glass Road. The deputy activated his lights to stop the vehicle, which sped up. The deputy advised dispatch of his pursuit, but due to snowy weather conditions and snow-covered roads that the deputy was traveling at speeds in excess of 60 mph, he determined it was unsafe to continue the chase.
Deputies checked an address in the 2200 block of Granger to which the registered owner of the vehicle lived and at 7:36 p.m., located the suspect vehicle parked behind a barn. The vehicle was easy to find, since there was six inches of fresh snow on the ground. Deputies followed footprints from the vehicle, which eventually led to the garage door of the residence. The house was dark and all doors were locked.
Contact was made with the homeowner by phone while watching the house for activity. The homeowner, who was in Florida, said he owned the truck in question, but noone should be driving it because the registration had expired and it wasn’t insured. He advised the deputy only two people had access to the home and his vehicle? his grandson and son, Martin Bruner.
The man gave police consent to search his home and entry was made at 9 p.m. when the grandson arrived. Bruner was located lying on the floor in a bedroom. The keys to the vehicle were found on a dresser in the same room.
A LEIN check on Bruner found he had at least 11 prior convictions for driving while license suspended and at least three prior convictions for fleeing and eluding police. He exercised his right to remain silent and was released pending an investigation. On Jan. 29, he was arrested in the 100 block of South Street.
A preliminary exam is scheduled for Feb. 11.