Woman drives off in man’s car while he hangs onto hood24-year-old faces attempted murder, other charges By April Lehmbeck EASTPOINTE — Police spotted a woman driving down Gratiot with a 47-year-old man holding onto the hood of the vehicle at about 6:30 p.m. March 15. The man was listed in critical condition after being thrown from the hood. Kelly Jane Messenger, 24, who police are referring to as a former resident of Burton, faces charges of assault with intent to commit murder, fleeing and eluding, and unlawfully driving away an automobile. 38th District Court Judge Carl Gerds set her bond at $1 million cash/surety during an arraignment March 17. The man, a New Baltimore resident, and woman met in Detroit and then went to Eastpointe, where police say she tried to take his car and drive off. Eastpointe police said they were unsure of the nature of the relationship between the man and woman. Other media reports note that police said the man paid her for sexual activities before she stole the car. “As she was leaving … he climbed onto the hood of the vehicle,” Eastpointe Detective Lt. Scott Bourgeois said. The woman headed south on Gratiot from the area of Gratiot and Couzens with the man still on the car. “One of our (officers) saw the vehicle driving southbound with a person on the hood; he got behind her; she swerved over, slamming on the brakes,” Bourgeois said. The man was thrown from the vehicle and Messenger allegedly sped off, west on Eight Mile. The woman managed to get away and was last seen at that time in the area of Eight Mile and Mound. The following morning at 1 a.m., another Eastpointe police officer spotted the suspect and stolen vehicle near Eight Mile and Gratiot and tried to pull her over. Instead of obeying, the suspect allegedly once again fled the scene. The officer chased the suspect until she “made an improper turn at Morang and Harper and headed east on westbound I-94,” according to a press release. The suspect ended up losing control and stopping on the U.S. Post Office lawn at Algonquin and Jefferson in Detroit. St. Clair Shores police, who had joined the chase, caught the suspect and handed her over to Eastpointe Police for prosecution. Messenger’s preliminary exam is scheduled for 1 p.m. March 30 in 38th District Court. You can reach Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1043.
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