Sterling Heights man dragged federal officers with car while resisting arrest, officials say

A grand jury has indicted a Sterling Heights man in connection with trying to flee federal officers seeking to arrest him, U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison announced Friday.

Carl Emerson Travis, 52, was named in a criminal complaint filed last month through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

On March 29, members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Team tried to arrest Travis, who was wanted in multiple jurisdictions, at a Days Inn motel in Warren, according to the filing.

He had several outstanding warrants, including for intimidation/aggravate stalking, failure to appear, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, domestic violence and fleeing police, investigators wrote.

When Travis saw authorities approaching, he ran off and tried to flee in his Mercedes Benz Coupe, accelerating in reverse to avoid an unmarked vehicle in front of it, according to the complaint.

"Despite the officers’ repeated commands to stop and warnings of force, Travis continue resisting," an FBI task force member wrote.

While accelerating in reverse, Travis dragged a deputy U.S. Marshal and a task force officer with his car and knocked another officer to the ground, authorities said.

As the car drove backward, "it also nearly struck several other deputies and officers who stood nearby," federal officials said in a statement Friday.

"Travis ultimately slammed into a parked car, pushing it through the wall of an occupied hotel room. Only then was Travis finally placed under arrest."

The indictment charges him with seven counts of aggravated assault on three deputy U.S. Marshals and four federal task force officers. “Our federal law enforcement officers put their lives at risk every day to keep us safe. The actions of this defendant were reckless and put the lives of our officers in danger,” Ison said Friday. “Our office will not hesitate to hold those accountable who harm law enforcement officers who are merely doing their jobs.”

Travis faces a detention hearing on Monday, federal court records show.

An attorney listed as representing Travis did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.