Michigan: Police open fire on car that backed into state trooper after chase
A Flint man will stand trial on charges he led police on a pursuit that ended only after he and his passenger were shot by Michigan State Police troopers. John Francis Gallop was bound over Monday, Sept. 21, on multiple charges, including assault with intent to murder, after a July 16 police chase left him and his passenger with multiple gunshot wounds.
The entire incident was captured on police dashcam, which was obtained by The Flint Journal through a Freedom of Information Act request. Michigan State Police Trooper John Faucette testified he was patrolling near Camden and Pettibone avenues where he allegedly saw a Buick Rendezvous traveling roughly double the 25 MPH speed limit.
Faucette said he attempted to stop the vehicle but the vehicle fled. Faucette and his partner pursued in their State Police cruiser.
A second Michigan State Police cruiser joined the pursuit, which proceeded to the area of Hammerberg and Atherton roads.
Troopers attempted to disable the suspect's vehicle by spinning it out with their cruiser, but the Buick managed to continue on, Faucette said.
The troopers again used a "precision immobilization tactic" near Raspberry and Greenbrook lanes. Again, the Buick did not stall but Faucette's partner exited their cruiser and attempted to remove the driver from his vehicle, Faucette said.
A trooper from a second cruiser attempted to assist Faucette's partner, but the Buick slammed into reverse and struck the trooper as he was behind the vehicle, Faucette said.
"I thought he was sucked up under the car," Faucette said of the trooper who was struck.
The troopers opened fire on the Buick, until it came to a rest. Police reports obtained by the Flint Journal through a Freedom of Information Act request shows troopers fired 42 shots into the vehicle.
Gallop, who authorities said was driving the Buick, was shot once. Faucette testified they had to use a stun gun to remove him from the car.
Attorney Glenn Cotton, who represented Gallop, said his client was trying to flee the scene, not intentionally harm a police officer.
"He wasn't trying to hurt, or murder or injure anybody," Cotton said.
The Buick's passenger, an 18-year-old Flint man who was not charged in the case, testified that Gallop would not let him out of the vehicle during the pursuit. He was shot five times by troopers.
The passenger said he and Gallop had been drinking prior to the chase.
The trooper who was struck by the Buick suffered a minor abrasion to his hand. The troopers were cleared of any wrongdoing by Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton's office.
Gallop remains in custody on felony charges of assault with intent to murder, second-degree fleeing a police officer, two counts of felonious assault, resisting/assaulting a police officer and malicious destruction of police property.
He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
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