Sturgis man convicted following October incident

A Sturgis man has been convicted of numerous charges stemming from an October incident that originated in Branch County.

St. Joseph County Prosecutor David Marvin said Dylan Brand, 27, was found guilty by jury after a two-day trial in front of Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman.

At mid-afternoon Oct. 22, Brand was armed with a stolen gun and fled from authorities at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour through a residential area of Sturgis, authorities said.

The pursuit was eventually terminated by Sgt. Aaron Moore, who weighed public-safety concerns. Neighborhood residents, however, guided law enforcement by pointing in the direction Brand fled. Brand eventually collided into a vehicle driven by a Sturgis woman.

Brand and a co-defendant fled on foot but were captured and taken into custody with the aid of a Michigan State Police K-9 unit, which aided in tracking down the location of the stolen handgun.

Brand last week was convicted of third-degree fleeing and eluding, assaulting, resisting and obstructing an officer of the law, and felony firearm.

Brand, having multiple prior felony convictions, faces up to life in prison. He will be sentenced Sept. 30.