Garden City armed robbery suspect in custody

Dearborn — Police have arrested an armed robbery suspect Thursday who escaped during a pursuit from Garden City into Dearborn's south end and prompted a lockdown, authorities say.

The suspect was in custody by 5:30 p.m., according to the Michigan State Police Twitter account. Other details were not immediately available.

The incident began at Express Liquor on Cherry Hill in Garden City.

Garden City Police officers were called to the liquor store at 9:17 a.m., as the suspect fled west on Cherry Hill in a white and tan Ford F-150. 

The responding officers saw the vehicle driving eastbound Ford Road onto northbound Brandt in Garden City and attempted to stop the vehicle.

The suspect refused to stop and a police chase ensued on eastbound Ford Road into Dearborn Heights. The chase continued to southbound Telegraph from Ford. At Telegraph and Interstate 94, Dearborn police saw the vehicle as it fled and joined the pursuit into the area of Schaefer and Mellon, where the suspect fled from his vehicle on foot.

By 11 a.m. officers blocked off the area of Schaefer and Butler, where they believed the suspect entered the AK Steel mill and hid in a wooded area between buildings.

Helicopters searched the sky, Garden City, Melvindale and Dearborn police all took part in the search, Dearborn Chief Ron Haddad said.

Brian Rothenberg, a spokesman of the United Auto Workers, issued a statement saying workers at AK Steel and Ford in the Rouge Complex were safe in lockdown by noon.

The lockdown was lifted at the buildings 1:35 p.m.

"We want to emphasize that this is an active situation that the Dearborn Police are handling," the UAW statement said. "At this point, it appears to not be workplace related. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dearborn Police and all who are on lockdown during this situation."

srahal@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @SarahRahal_