Detroit, Michigan — A Detroit priest is being praised for his quick actions after helping apprehend an alleged hit-and-run suspect who attempted to flee following a crash near a historic church.
The dramatic incident unfolded Tuesday near St. Joseph Shrine, where Rev. Canon Jean-Baptiste Commins unexpectedly found himself at the center of a police pursuit.
Priest Hears Crash and Springs Into Action
According to reports, Commins was walking through the church parking lot when he suddenly heard the sound of a collision and screeching tires.
Authorities said police had been attempting to stop a vehicle believed to be stolen when the driver crashed into another vehicle nearby. Moments later, the suspect reportedly jumped out and began running from the scene. As chaos unfolded, someone nearby shouted for help.
According to Commins, he immediately reacted.
“I grabbed him and put him down,” he told Fox2 Detroit.
The priest, still dressed in his full clerical attire, tackled the fleeing suspect and worked to keep him restrained until officers arrived.
Priest Says Suspect Resisted
Commins explained that the suspect fought back while trying to escape.
The priest said he felt he had little choice but to use force to keep the situation under control.
“He was resisting a lot, trying to run away, definitely, and so I had to, unfortunately, give him a few punches and hurt my hand a little bit — nothing major — but making sure that there was no threat, since I didn’t know if he had a gun, if he had a weapon,” Commins said.
He added:
“It was definitely, you know, suspicious behavior and probably guilty of the accident.”
The priest suffered a minor hand injury during the struggle but did not require significant medical treatment.
Suspect Arrested Following Chase
Authorities later confirmed that the suspect, identified as an 18-year-old male, was taken into custody. Police also detained three additional individuals connected to the incident.
Officials have not released further details regarding potential charges or the circumstances surrounding the allegedly stolen vehicle.
The arrest brought an end to what began as a routine traffic stop and quickly escalated into a dramatic chase and crash.
Priest Then Turned Attention to Injured Victim
After helping stop the suspect, Commins immediately shifted his focus to assisting the woman injured in the collision. The priest said he rushed back to check on her condition while emergency crews arrived at the scene.
“I rushed back to the lady, to make sure, you know, if she needed the Anointing of the Sick or a blessing or something,” he said.
He continued:
“So I was there, too, with the medics, and she was not very responsive. But her eyes were twitching a little bit.”
Authorities later confirmed the woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Back to Normal After Extraordinary Day
Despite the dramatic events, Commins said he returned to his normal routine once the situation was resolved.
“I went and had to do my prayers as usual and have dinner with the community, and wow, just another day, just another day in the D,” the priest said.
Commins serves with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, an organization known for celebrating the traditional Latin Mass.
Originally educated in France and later trained in Italy, the priest has now found himself receiving widespread attention for actions few would expect from a typical day in ministry.
What do you think about the priest’s response during this dramatic incident? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
