Chaos Unfolds: A Deputy's Harrowing Encounter and a Suspect's Desperate Dash in Kalamazoo

It was, you could say, a typical early Sunday morning in Kalamazoo Township, that quiet period before the world truly wakes up. Most folks, no doubt, were still lost in the comfort of their beds. But for Deputy Kevin Collins of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, the peace was about to shatter, quite violently, outside a Taco Bell on West Main Street. He was responding to a rather standard call, a welfare check, about an unresponsive individual slumped in a vehicle. Little did he — or frankly, anyone — know that this seemingly routine situation would, at roughly 2:30 a.m., spiral into something far more dangerous, a scene right out of a high-stakes drama.

Deputy Collins arrived at the restaurant’s parking lot, scanning for the reported vehicle. He found it: a gold 2003 Cadillac Escalade, and inside, indeed, a man slumped over the steering wheel. This was Mark A. Davis, a 52-year-old from Kalamazoo, as we later learned. Collins, doing his duty, approached the SUV cautiously, trying to rouse the occupant. You want to make sure they’re okay, obviously, but also, you’re always on alert. What happened next, well, it was swift and shocking.

The man, Mr. Davis, suddenly became agitated, jolting awake. He started the Cadillac. And then, without warning, he threw the vehicle into reverse. Collins, standing near the driver's side door, found himself directly in the path. The SUV, a heavy machine, struck him. It wasn't a glancing blow; it was direct, an undeniable impact. In that split second, the situation transformed from a welfare check to a life-threatening encounter. One can only imagine the surge of adrenaline, the immediate fear.

Responding to the immediate threat, Deputy Collins, now recovering from being hit, discharged his firearm multiple times. This was, as authorities later confirmed, an officer-involved shooting, an absolute last resort. But despite the shots, the Cadillac didn't stop. Instead, it sped away from the Taco Bell parking lot, vanishing into the early morning darkness. Collins, thankfully, was not seriously injured, but the experience, I imagine, would shake anyone to their core.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office wasted no time. An alert went out, descriptions of the vehicle and suspect circulated. It was a manhunt, in truth. Hours later, in the afternoon of that very same Sunday, the tireless efforts paid off. Mr. Davis was located and apprehended. The pursuit, the striking of an officer, the shots fired — it all led to a host of serious charges: felonious assault of a police officer, resisting and obstructing, operating while intoxicated (OWI), and felony firearm. A heavy list, to be sure.

As is standard protocol in these kinds of intense situations, Deputy Collins was placed on administrative leave. It’s a measure taken to allow for review, for calm, and to be fair, for the officer to process such a traumatic event. The Michigan State Police have since taken over the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, ensuring an impartial and thorough examination of every detail. And so, what began as a simple check on someone's well-being evolved into a complex legal and investigative saga, reminding us all of the unpredictable nature of police work.