Community Corner

Hartland Standoff Suspect Pleads No Contest to Charges

Waterford Township man who surrendered after high-speed chase to be sentenced Sept. 6.

Waterford Township resident Stephen S. Wethy, who led police on a high-speed chase that began in Oakland County and ended in Hartland with his arrest has pleaded no contest to multiple felony charges related to the case, according to online Oakland County circuit court records.

Police began chasing Wethy, 48, after a domestic dispute March 10 in Waterford Township with his wife in which he was accused of firing a gun. Police then pursued him west along M-59 — including White Lake — at times reaching speeds of 90 miles per hour into Livingston County during the evening rush hour.

In Hartland, he drove to the Hartland Hills Neighborhood near where he was cornered by police. He surrendered after about a 30-minute standoff in which he threatened his own life.

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After his plea July 19, Wethy now faces sentencing Sept. 6 on charges of fleeing police, felonious assault, possession of a firearm during a felony and possession of a firearm as a felon. He also faces sentencing on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge.

A no contest plea means a defendant does not contest the charges and is treated like a guilty plea but it is not an admission of guilt.

Find out what's happening in Hartlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

More on the case

  • For Hartland Patch's original story of the chase, click here.
  • For Hartland Patch's story about one family's account account of the standoff, click here.
  • For a video of part of the standoff published in The Oakland Press, click here.


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