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Michigan State Police trooper Jim Shaw is seeking arrest warrants from the Lapeer County Prosecutor's Office for a man 51, and a woman, 42, both of Metamora Township. He's asking for felony retail fraud charges against both and an additional count of fleeing and eluding against the man. Their names couldn't be used because they weren't arraigned by press time.

The two were nabbed Friday afternoon by Michigan State Police Trooper Jim Shaw after the silver Chevrolet Equinox, delinquent from a test drive at Milnes Ford in Lapeer, crashed.

"They were supposed to be on a test drive from a Lapeer dealership," Shaw said. "It's thought the suspects were going to drive the Equinox to Pontiac, and exchange the liquor for drugs. She was supposed to be going into rehab that day."

Earlier that day, the two test drove the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox.

"They acted interested and asked for a test drive," said Milnes Ford General Sales Manager Gordon Valdez. "The salesman got the proper identification. They returned, and then asked to take it to their mechanic in Rochester."

Valdez refused, but as a concession offered to have one of his employees drive it to the Oakland County mechanic. Then the couple switched gears and asked if they could take it to an uncle in Lapeer who is a mechanic.

"They never came back," said Valdez.

Instead of driving the vehicle to the uncle, the couple traveled to Meijer. A woman set off alarms when she pushed a cart load of food out the door without paying for it. Her suspected accomplice waited outside in the Equinox.

"She pushed the cart out to the parking lot, and grabbed the liquor and jumped in the waiting Equinox. They left the food behind," said Shaw. "I think she was using it to hide the bottles."

The woman is thought to have swiped six high-priced fifths of alcohol including one Grey Goose vodka, two Belvedere vodka and three Hennessy cognac. The high-end brands are sold at retail for up to $35 each.

A witness and Meijer personnel phoned Lapeer County 911 after the incident. Dispatchers issued a "be on the look out," to area police departments for the silver Equinox.

Shaw was on his way to assist with another property damage collision when he spotted the fleeing vehicle.

"I got behind it on northbound Lake Nepessing Road," said Shaw. "They got onto westbound I-69 and exited onto Elba Road."

Shaw followed the sports utility vehicle as it ran stop signs and attempted to lose him at speeds estimated up to 95 mph. The SUV crashed at Davison Road and Baxter Road, just inside Genesee County.

"Our county roads were clean," Shaw said. "Right when they hit Genesee County, they became slushy and he lost control. He slid off the roadway to the right, hit the snow and flipped. The vehicle went upright again, went into some trees and became lodged. They were trapped inside."

The two were freed by a Genesee County fire department who used the Jaws of Life. They were transported by Patriot Ambulance to Hurley Medical Center.

"They were pretty banged up, but they've recovered and are released from the hospital," Shaw said.

The test drive vehicle was totaled.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com

A tow truck operator pieces together the silver 2005 Equinox that was totaled Friday. The sports utility vehicle was delinquent from a test drive at Milnes Ford in Lapeer. A Metamora couple, suspected of stealing from Meijer, attempted to flee police, lost control on the slushy highway and crashed. Trooper Jim Shaw is seeking arrest warrants against the two.