Kevin Grasha

kgrasha@lsj.com

LANSING -- A Stockbridge man was driving the SUV Ingham County sheriff's Deputy Grant Whitaker was pursuing when he was killed in a crash last week, prosecutors say.

John Coryell Kelsey II has been charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license causing death and first-degree fleeing police.

Kelsey, 34, was arraigned Monday in 55th District Court. Bond was set at $1 million. His attorney, Brian Morley, said he's still gathering information and could not yet comment on the charges.

At a news conference Monday at state police headquarters, officials said Kelsey was arrested Saturday, five days after the crash near Stockbridge. Officials said he had been driving the 2003 GMC Yukon Denali, which was registered to a relative. Others were inside the SUV, officials said, but they are not facing charges.

Michigan State Police Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue declined to provide details about what led investigators to Kelsey. She said hundreds of tips were received through a tip line set up for the investigation.

"I'd like to publicly thank the community and citizens who stepped forward in helping us with this investigation," Etue said.

She said investigators worked around the clock to identify a suspect.

Kelsey has multiple previous convictions for driving with a suspended/revoked license, records show, including in 2000 in Livingston County for fleeing police and driving with a suspended/revoked license.

In that case, he pleaded guilty to those charges, records show, as well as to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and marijuana possession. He served prison time, records show.

In 2004, Kelsey was sentenced to a year in jail after pleaded no contest in Calhoun County to delivery/manufacture of marijuana, a felony.

In 2010, records say Kelsey was convicted three times of misdemeanor driving with a suspended/revoked license. In all three cases -- two in Livingston County and one in Livonia -- he pleaded guilty.

State police have been investigating the Dec. 7 crash, which happened as Whitaker was pursuing the SUV. Whitaker's patrol car left the road and struck a tree.

Initial reports were that a deputy in an unmarked vehicle began chasing the SUV on Chapman Road, west of M-52. Whitaker, who was in a fully marked cruiser, joined the chase.

The crash happened on Dexter Trail shortly after 2:10 a.m.

Officials did not provide more details Monday, but said more information would be provided in court.

A preliminary hearing, which determines if there is enough evidence for a trial, is set for Dec. 23 in 55th District Court.

Each of the charges Kelsey faces is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He is charged as a habitual offender, which could increase the amount of prison time he serves, if convicted.

Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III praised the state police investigation, noting that when the crash happened, police didn't know anything about vehicle or the identity of the driver.

"I did not believe that we would be this far in this investigation," Dunnings said, "to the point where we (would be) reviewing charges...one week after Deputy Whitaker's death."

Lisa Roose-Church of the Livingston Daily Press & Argus contributed to this report.