Teen Reaches for Gun During Police Chase in Ferndale

Ferndale Police arrested two 18-year-olds on Tuesday after police said they resisted arrest and one of them reached for a gun from his backpack as he ran from an officer.

Around 10 a.m. Feb. 12, a Ferndale officer was flagged down by a woman who pointed out two people who she said were smoking marijuana in the bus stop at Eight Mile and Livernois, according to a news release from Ferndale Police.

The officer approached the two individuals, who the officer knew by name as Bria Nicole White, 18, of Detroit; and Rondale Tyric Byrd, 18, of Detroit. The officer had previously identified both as members of a gang.

According to a story in the Daily Tribune, both are students at the Digital Learning Center in Ferndale.

The officer called for White to stop but she refused and walked away, police said.

The officer then spoke with Byrd and determined that the two had been smoking marijuana. The officer recovered a small amount of marijuana from Byrd and in the process of arresting him, tried to check in the man’s backpack.

Police said Byrd then turned and ran and the officer chased him. While running, Byrd took off his backpack, unzipped it and reached inside. He then tripped and fell and dropped a handgun - a Colt, .38 cal. Revolver - that came out of the backpack. The officer, along with a back-up officer, took Byrd into custody.

Officers later tracked down White nearby and arrested her; police said she struggled and resisted arrest.

Byrd faces charges of carrying a concealed weapon, a five-year felony; resisting a police officer, a two-year felony; and possession of a controlled substance, a one-year misdemeanor.

White faces a charge of resisting a police officer; and use of marijuana, a 90-day misdemeanor.

They were both arraigned on Tuesday. Bond was set for Byrd at $25,000 cash/surety. Bond for White was set at $5,000 cash/surety.