Despite Gunfire and a High-Speed Chase, Police Say New Michigan Laws Stopped Them from Jailing Seventeen-Year-Old

GRAND BLANC, Mich. — A 17-year-old suspect was released Friday following a high-speed police chase that ended with a handgun being thrown from the vehicle and discharging into the car, according to law enforcement officials.

The pursuit occurred June 27 and involved multiple agencies, including the Michigan State Police, Genesee County Sheriff's Department, and police from the cities of Grand Blanc, Flint, Burton, and Davison Township.

Authorities say the juvenile attempted to discard a handgun from the moving vehicle. The firearm discharged into the interior of the car during the attempt. No injuries were reported, and the suspect was taken into custody—but later released.

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Law enforcement officials say the release was due to changes in state law. In October 2021, Michigan enacted a “Raise the Age” law that reclassified 17-year-olds as juveniles, meaning they could no longer be lodged in adult county jails. Previously, the suspect would have been held in the Genesee County Jail.

In October 2024, the state implemented a new juvenile screening tool, which requires law enforcement to contact a centralized intake system before a juvenile can be detained. A point-based system is used to determine lodging eligibility, and fleeing from police does not automatically qualify.

“These pursuits put the public and officers at serious risk,” said one law enforcement official involved in the case. “When a juvenile commits a crime and flees, they should be held accountable. Releasing them sends the wrong message.”

The laws in question were passed with bipartisan support. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the Michigan Legislature backed the “Raise the Age” legislation and the juvenile justice reform package known as “Justice for Kids and Communities.” The measures were signed into law by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, with support from legislators on both sides of the aisle.

While advocates argued the changes would improve rehabilitation outcomes for youth, law enforcement officials are raising concerns about the unintended consequences of allowing potentially dangerous juveniles to go free after serious incidents.

Law enforcement agencies are urging the public to contact state lawmakers and demand changes to the screening tool, specifically calling for automatic lodging for juveniles who flee police.

“Community policing only works when the public and police work together to prevent and solve crime,” the official said. “We need accountability to protect our communities.”

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.