Man Escapes After 3-Mile Chase Through Woods, Creek in Chesterfield Township Manhunt

The 23-year-old man accused of trying to kidnap and murder his ex-girlfriend escaped for the second time Friday following a three-mile chase through woods and water, according to Chesterfield Township police.

The chase spanned three miles, one-third of which was through a knee-deep creek, and ultimately led to Jonathan Elbers disappearing from ground and aerial tracks. Elbers, deemed by police as extremely dangerous, appears to be heading northbound by foot toward the Richmond and Lenox Township areas in a likely attempt to get closer to his native Tuscola County, Chesterfield Township Sgt. Bradley Kersten told Patch Saturday.

“It appears he was heading north trying to get out of the township," Kersten said, noting police are not ruling out other areas either.

Description changes as old clothes ditched

By Saturday morning, the manhunt for Elbers pressed on and the public was urged to report any sightings. He is now believed to be wearing different clothes than previously reported. During the search through the woods, he was in a baseball jersey with the red sleeves and the number 22 on it. A baseball cap was recovered during the chase.

“We have some suspicions on how he may have change his clothes," Kersten said without disclosing specifics on his new shirt.

When asked whether Elbers, who is not believed to have friends or family in town, is suspected of stealing clothes, he said it's possible but no reports match those events at this time.

“He hasn’t made an attempt that’s been reported to steal a car or break into a house," he said.

Suspect vanishes after multi-agency search

Elbers was sighted around 3 p.m. at New Haven Road near Pollard Park by a passerby who recognized him from media reports. When confronted by a Michigan State trooper, the suspect fled into a thick wooded area. The trooper followed him into the woods but lost sight of him, police said.

Township police called Homeland Security to deploy a helicopter and the Macomb County Sheriff's Office and state police for their K-9 teams while setting up a perimeter. The suspect had about a 15-minute lead on authorities. A dog tracked the suspect's scent through the woods, where he then got into the Salt River Creek, heading north for about a mile. He then is believed to have gone under the bridge at 26 Mile Road. The search forged on until darkness ensued, police said.

Ex-girlfriend targeted in abduction, murder plot

Elbers is being sought after he fled on foot from police in the early morning hours Friday from a home on Nicolette Drive in the 23 Mile and Sass area in the township. Police found a rifle and duct tape in his truck parked near the victim's home, Detective Sgt. Deron Myers said Friday morning.

At approximately 1:05 a.m., township police responded to the house after receiving a call from the homeowners vacationing in Florida. They told police they were concerned their 20-year-old daughter was having problems with her ex-boyfriend. The victim's sister met officers at the home and let them in with her key, Myers stated.

When police entered the home, they heard the victim screaming for help. As officers approached the basement stairs, Elbers, who was bleeding from the head, emerged. He refused to comply with police commands, a struggle ensued and he broke free. A subsequent foot chase and K-9 track were unsuccessful in finding him, according to police.

The victim, who was not seriously injured, told police Elbers showed up at her home, saying he was upset over their breakup. Unable to reason with him, he forced her into the basement and began binding her and tried placing her in the large Christmas tree bag, police said. 

He then allegedly began choking her and forcing her into the bag, telling her that he was going to put her in the back of his truck and shoot her in the head, the victim told police.

When Elbers heard police enter the home, she was able to break free and grab a porcelain statue that she used to strike him in the head with. He fled toward the stairway, struggled with officers and then ran away, police said.

Slew of felony charges issued

Elbers has been charged in an arrest warrant with assault with intent to murder, a life felony; first-degree home invasion, a 20-year felony; unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; and assaulting an officer causing injury, a 4-year felony. The officer suffered a minor injury in the scuffle.

He is described as 5'10, 155 pounds with hair longer than it was in the attached picture; it is now shaggy. He has a head wound.

Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is urged to call the Chesterfield Township Police at 586-949-2322 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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