Suspect in Saturday’s police chase arraigned

Grabinski

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

HART — The suspect in a high-speed chase Saturday, April 18, that began in Shelby and ended in Holton has been arraigned in 78th District Court on two felony counts of third-degree fleeing and eluding and carrying a concealed weapon with a second-offense habitual offender notice.

James Darin Grabinski, 37, of Pentwater, remains lodged in the Oceana County Jail. Both counts are punishable by up to five years in prison, said Oceana County Prosecutor Joe Bizon, and his habitual offender status makes the charges punishable by up to seven and a half years each. More charges may be forthcoming, he said.

Police were dispatched to a felonious assault investigation in which Grabinski allegedly threatened to cut the victim’s throat with a knife at a residence in the 4500 block of S. 144th Avenue in Ferry Township Saturday at 1:30 p.m., stated Lt. Craig Mast of the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office. Grabinski allegedly had fled the residence, and police were notified that he was going to attempt to further assault the victim at Mercy Health Lakeshore Campus in Shelby, where she was receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the assault.

Officers from the Shelby Police Department located Grabinski at the hospital, where a lengthy chase ensued involving OCSO, the Hart post of the Michigan State Police, the Department of Natural Resources and the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office, Mast said. Grabinski was eventually apprehended in Holton where he was arrested on outstanding warrants, including failure to pay child support.

Oceana County law enforcement handled two separate police chases over the weekend, including one Sunday afternoon, April 19, in which 32-year-old Ronald Hunter of Montague allegedly stole a truck; hit a police car; and rolled the truck over. Hunter has been charged in Oceana County with fleeing and eluding police; felonious assault; malicious destruction of police property and operating under the influence of drugs. He also remains lodged in the Oceana County Jail.

Then Sunday night shortly before midnight, the Hart Express EZ Mart convenience store on Polk Road was robbed. Police continue to search for the suspect, but as of mid-afternoon Wednesday, April 22, the suspect remains at large.