Wayland man extradited from Montana 
4/24/01
by Shelly Sulser
Staff Writer

A 17-year-old Wayland girl was seriously hurt and a Grand Rapids
couple was injured March 29 when an attempt by Michigan State
Police troopers to stop a car for running a stop sign in Yankee
Springs Township led to a high speed chase that resulted in a crash.

Barry County authorities successfully extradited the car's driver,
Anthony Michael Moore, 17, from Gardner, Montana, where he was
captured shortly after another high speed pursuit which resulted in
Moore crashing the car he had allegedly stolen after fleeing on foot
from the Kentwood crash.

Sgt. James Richardson and Trooper Brian Roderick returned early
last Friday morning to Barry County with Moore.

He has been charged with second degree fleeing and eluding, a
10-year felony; failure to stop at the scene of a serious personal
injury accident, a five year felony; possession of burglar tools, a
10-year felony; and possession of a controlled substance.

Moore, who will turn 18 on May 19, is also charged as being a
habitual offender, therefore subjecting him to a potential 15-year
prison sentence, said Barry County Prosecutor Gordon Shane McNeill.

He was arraigned in Barry County District Court Friday when a
$200,000 cash or surety bond was set. He is currently set for an April
25 prexam at 8:30 a.m. in Barry County District Court.

"In cooperation with local law enforcement, the Barry County
Prosecuting Attorney's Office considers this case a significant
community-related case," said McNeill. "This office intends to
prosecute Moore to the full extent of the law."

According to McNeill, "the actions of Moore jeopardized the lives of
not only Troopers Roderick and Schrader, but brought injury upon
the occupants of the vehicle Moore was driving and the innocent
occupants of the vehicle with whom he collided in Kent County."

According to the Hastings Post of the Michigan State Police, the
incident began when troopers Brian Roderick and Barry Schrader tried
to stop Moore's car after he allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign
while exiting the Yankee Springs Meadows trailer park at about 7:15
p.m.

In the car with him were his girlfriend, 17-year-old Brandy Young and
a friend, Paul Michael Smith, 18, also of Yankee Springs Meadows.

Troopers said as they tried to stop the Moore car on Patterson
Avenue, they witnessed him throwing suspected contraband out of
the window of the vehicle.

The suspected contraband was never located, however.

The chase reportedly exceeded 90 mph and as troopers decided to
slow down, they lost site of the Moore vehicle.

They reported that Moore had turned his headlights off during the
pursuit. 

"They slowed hoping it would cause him to slow," said Trooper Sandy
Larsen. "Then, they came upon the accident."

After the car turned onto 92nd and Eastern in Kent County, Moore's
vehicle had collided with a van and Moore reportedly fled on foot,
leaving his critically injured girlfriend and Smith behind.

"The female told troopers Tony was driving and then went
unconscious," Larsen said.

According to the accident report, Moore's car had struck a van in the
rear passenger door at the intersection of 92nd Street and Eastern
Avenue, causing the van to tip over onto its side.

Young had suffered a lacerated liver and face, a punctured lung and
possible broken ankles, while the driver of the van, Gary Zandstra,
63, of Grand Rapids, suffered a broken collar bone and cuts to his
face and forehead. His wife, Marilyn, 62, was also hurt and the
couple was taken to Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids for
treatment.

"When troopers got to the scene, Brandy so seriously hurt that they
thought she died," said Larsen. "While they were attending to her,
the Kent County Sheriff's Department arrived. They knew he had fled
on foot."

Larsen said a tracking dog from the Kentwood Police Department
was called in to conduct a search, but lost Moore's scent at 100th
and Division.

There, police believe Moore stole a 1997 Honda Accord.

Police later received tips that Moore was en route to his
ex-girlfriend's house in Montana.

On April 1, police were notified by Montana law enforcement of a
54-mile chase in Livingston County, Montana, involving the National
Park Service, the Park County Sheriff's Department and the Montana
Highway Patrol, Roderick said.

"Moore attempted to flee and elude Montana law enforcement with
speeds reaching 100 miles per hour at times," with Moore driving the
stolen Honda, he said. "The pursuit ended when Moore crashed
through two utility poles, a fence row, and into a brick wall after
unsuccessfully negotiating a curve at approximately 100 mph."

Moore was able to flee on foot from that crash, but was captured
after about a five-minute foot pursuit.

On April 2, charges were authorized by the Barry County Prosecutor's
office against Moore, who lives in Moline.

"Charges were brought after the diligent investigation of Michigan
State Police Trooper Brian Roderick," said assistant prosecutor
Rebecca Hawkins.

Brandy Young was listed in fair condition at Spectrum Hospital on
Wednesday, April 2 and has since been released The Zandstras were
treated at Spectrum and released. Smith was taken to St. Mary's
Hospital where he was treated and released.