Tennessee Fugitive's Crime Spree Ends in Royal Oak: Police [Updated]

Updated. ROYAL OAK, MI — A Tennessee fugitive’s multi-state crime spree came to an end in Royal Oak Friday thanks to the keen observations of a local police officer who was nearly stabbed with a drug syringe, authorities said.

Timothy England, 37, was arrested for a felonious assault on a police officer, possession of narcotics, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of a stolen credit card.

Police said in a news release that England was “completely uncooperative” and had no identification. Due to the Labor Day holiday weekend, it wasn’t until Tuesday that Royal Oak police were able to identify their prisoner as a man who had been wanted for escaping federal custody in Tennessee, where he was being held awaiting trial on charges for bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime..

The Royal Oak incident began Friday evening when Officer Richard Chipman observed England acting suspiciously in the parking lot at 423 W. 11 Mile Road. Chipman continued to watch England as he allegedly entered a vehicle and attempted to inject himself with narcotics.

Police said the two struggled when Chipman attempted to remove England from the vehicle and England was able to break free briefly, but the officer caught up with him.

During a second struggle, England allegedly tried to stab Chipman with the syringe and broke free a second time, according to police.

Chipman gave chase again, and caught England as he was trying to squeeze through a narrow gap in the wall of an alcove in the North Lafayette Avenue parking structure, the release said.

England stopped resisting when backup officers arrived and deployed a Taser weapon to bring England under control, and was taken into custody and hospitalized with “an unknown medical condition,” police said.

Police said they learned later that England, who had been on the lam since Aug. 30, was wanted in connection with the theft of a vehicle stolen from North Carolina on Aug. 31 and a credit card stolen from Virginia several hours later. Officers found a realistic looking toy handgun and a bank robbery in his possession, according to the news release.

The Royal Oak Criminal Investigations Division, in conjunction with the FBI, is looking into other crimes England may have committed after his escape from Tennessee last week.

“There is no doubt in my mind that this dangerous individual was in Royal Oak to commit an act of violence,” Royal Oak Police Chief Corrigan O’Donohue said in the release. “Since escaping from Tennessee authorities, he has been on a multi-state crime spree. That crime spree came to an end in Royal Oak thanks to outstanding proactive police work.”

Police said England has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for robbery, aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, felony drug possession, auto theft, fleeing and eluding, and possession of contraband in a penal facility.

England was arraigned Wednesday on Royal Oak charges before 44th District Court Judge Jamie Wittenberg, who set his bond at $100,000.

England’s next court is Sept. 20.

Photo courtesy of Royal Oak Police