CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI - A teenager is facing second-degree murder charges after a high speed chase with police ended in a crash that killed a father of two.
The 16-year-old, Daniel Canales, appeared before a judge via Zoo on Thursday, July 17th, and was charged as an adult following the July 12th crash that killed 28-year-old Alex Habib, a husband and father of two young children, WXYZ reported.
According to prosecutors, Canales fled an attempted traffic stop in Roseville, reaching speeds of up to 130 mph before running a red light at 11 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in Warren and crashing into Habib's vehicle.
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has charged Canales with second-degree murder, two counts of fleeing a police officer, operating without a license causing death, and unlawfully driving away in an automobile.
If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. Judge Ryan Zemke denied bond for Canales, order him to remain in a juvenile correctional facility while he awaits trial.
"Due to the circumstances involved here as outlined by the prosecutor, definitely give way to a serious concern for risk to the public, a serious concern for risk of flight just in the nature of the charges as they're written," Zemke said.
On July 12th, Clinton Township police responded to an apartment complex early in the morning and saw a vehicle driving slowly with its lights off. Police then attempted to stop the vehicle, which they said was stolen, but the driver fled, according to FOX 2.
When Canales hit Habib, the father of two was driving for Uber.
Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido called this a "deeply troubling case," as he announced his officer would be trying Canales as an adult.
"The decision to charge a juvenile as an adult is never made lightly. In this matter, we proceeded with careful and thorough consideration of how to best uphold fairness and justice," he said.
"We are dealing with a serious allegation involving a minor whose actions are believed to have caused the death of an innocent man, a man who was simply driving to support his family," the prosecutor added.
"Actions have consequences, and while youth is a factor, it does not erase accountability. Our role is to seek justice, and in this case, that means proceeding with the full weight of the law." Canales does not have a criminal record and bond will be revisited at his next court date, which is scheduled for July 28th.
Habib also worked at a restaurant to support his wife, whom he married just six months ago, and his two children are one-year-old and three-years-old, Law & Crime reported. A GoFundMe page for Habib's family has raised over $100,000.
The 16-year-old, Daniel Canales, appeared before a judge via Zoo on Thursday, July 17th, and was charged as an adult following the July 12th crash that killed 28-year-old Alex Habib, a husband and father of two young children, WXYZ reported.
According to prosecutors, Canales fled an attempted traffic stop in Roseville, reaching speeds of up to 130 mph before running a red light at 11 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in Warren and crashing into Habib's vehicle.
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has charged Canales with second-degree murder, two counts of fleeing a police officer, operating without a license causing death, and unlawfully driving away in an automobile.
If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. Judge Ryan Zemke denied bond for Canales, order him to remain in a juvenile correctional facility while he awaits trial.
"Due to the circumstances involved here as outlined by the prosecutor, definitely give way to a serious concern for risk to the public, a serious concern for risk of flight just in the nature of the charges as they're written," Zemke said.
On July 12th, Clinton Township police responded to an apartment complex early in the morning and saw a vehicle driving slowly with its lights off. Police then attempted to stop the vehicle, which they said was stolen, but the driver fled, according to FOX 2.
When Canales hit Habib, the father of two was driving for Uber.
Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido called this a "deeply troubling case," as he announced his officer would be trying Canales as an adult.
"The decision to charge a juvenile as an adult is never made lightly. In this matter, we proceeded with careful and thorough consideration of how to best uphold fairness and justice," he said.
"We are dealing with a serious allegation involving a minor whose actions are believed to have caused the death of an innocent man, a man who was simply driving to support his family," the prosecutor added.
"Actions have consequences, and while youth is a factor, it does not erase accountability. Our role is to seek justice, and in this case, that means proceeding with the full weight of the law." Canales does not have a criminal record and bond will be revisited at his next court date, which is scheduled for July 28th.
Habib also worked at a restaurant to support his wife, whom he married just six months ago, and his two children are one-year-old and three-years-old, Law & Crime reported. A GoFundMe page for Habib's family has raised over $100,000.
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Comments
2025-07-23T14:52-0400 | Comment by: Robert
In today's world where teenagers feel Entitled, have little or no Respect for authority in general and little or No Respect for Law Enforcement, a chronological age designation that limits accountability for Adult or Juvenile offenses is obsolete and no longer a viable defense in my mind. If you drive a two Ton Stolen Vehicle, running from Law Enforcement and Kill a hard working, innocent Man, you should spend the rest of your life in prison and age should be Irrelevant!....