Police: Mom, Son Arrested After Road Rage Incident, High-Speed Chase

A mother and son from Plymouth were arrested recently following a road rage incident and high-speed chase, according to the Ferndale Police Department.

Two drivers flagged down a Ferndale patrol officer at approximately 10:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, on Nine Mile Road near Hilton following a road rage incident in which Latanya Tippet-Rhodes, 50, allegedly threw hot coffee on the other driver, the Ferndale Police Department reports.

The road rage incident occurred in Detroit before the women traveled into Ferndale, according to the Detroit Free Press.

As the officer investigated in a nearby parking lot, Tippet-Rhodes – whose 23-year-old son Drake Rashard Rhodes was in the front passenger seat of the Chevrolet Cruz – fled the scene, according to Ferndale Police.

The department reports Tippet-Rhodes hit speeds up to approximately 80 miles per hour as she fled on Nine Mile, Hilton and Eight Mile Roads before turning northbound on Hilton and slowing to let her son – who was dressed as a woman – out of the car.

"He then ran and was chased by police on foot. Rhodes ran (southbound) across 8 Mile road through traffic. He ran through seven lanes of traffic, and was hit by a car in the eighth lane. He then tried to continue running, but was caught by police. Rhodes suffered apparent minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment," according to the Ferndale Police Department.

"Officers arrested the mother (Tippet) who then claimed to be having medical problems," a police press release says. "While being checked out by medics, she spit on one of the police officers. She was taken to the hospital, then cleared for incarceration."