Man Carjacks Elderly Sterling Hts. Woman, Crashes Fleeing Cops: Police

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI — A Macomb County man could spend the rest of his life in prison after police said he carjacked an elderly woman outside a Sterling Heights Walmart.

Jason Graves, 37, from Eastpointe, was charged with carjacking, third-degree fleeing and eluding, felonious assault and resisting and obstructing, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office said.

Carjacking is a life offense, fleeing and eluding is a five-year felony, felonious assault is a four-year felony and resisting and obstructing is a two-year felony. Graves was placed in the county jail with a $75,000 cash bond. If the bond is met, he must wear a GPS tether.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.

"This madness needs to stop," Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said. "The defendant is looking at life in prison for the senseless violence of stealing a car from an elderly woman."

Officials said Graves threw an elderly woman out of her jeep in the Walmart parking lot on Mound Road, and then got into the jeep and drove off.

Officers found the stolen Jeep parked at a Super 8 Motel a few hours later, officials said.

When officers tried arresting Graves, he broke free, prompting an officer "who feared for his life" to fire shots at Graves, officials said.

Graves eluded the shots and officers, and took off in the jeep north on Van Dyke Avenue, where he eventually crashed into another vehicle on 15 Mile Road, officials said.

Officers arrested Graves at the scene of the crash, officials said. He was not injured in the crash.