Sturgis man found guilty of firearm, fleeing and eluding charges

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Mich. - A Sturgis man was found guilty on Thursday for charges connected to an October 2021 incident, according to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office.

Dylan Brand, 27, was found guilty by a jury on the charges of fleeing and eluding, assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, and felony firearm, reports said.

On October 22, 2021, Sturgis Police responded to a "be on the lookout" (BOL) following a reported armed robbery in Branch County.

According to reports, Brand, armed with a stolen gun, escaped law enforcement in a vehicle going nearly 100 miles per hour in a residential area of Sturgis.

Police initiated a chase on Brand but soon terminated it because of public safety concerns.

Citizens helped police find Brand as he escaped in a vehicle and while running.

A Michigan State Police K9 unit helped track down the stolen handgun Brand allegedly hid.

Brand's sentencing has been scheduled for September 30.