Prosecutors allege that a 31-year-old Traverse City man went to great lengths to run from police and then cover his tracks.

A Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to pull over a pickup for a busted headlight in Traverse City at 2am July 22 and the driver sped off, driving through stop signs and exceeding 100mph, according to the charges.

The chase ended at the Oak Ridge subdivision near Bass Lake where a deputy found the truck abandoned near a house and watched its lights flash as it was locked with a remote key.

The truck’s license plate was registered to a used car dealer who informed police he’d lent it to Charles Thomas Alexander II, a mechanic who worked for him. Deputies interviewed Alexander’s uncle, who told them Alexander had called to ask to be picked up from the Bass Lake area at 3am July 22. Investigators also obtained cell phone tower data which placed Alexander’s phone in Traverse City at the beginning of the car chase and near Bass Lake at the end, according to the charges.

Alexander, who lives near Grawn, insisted he was innocent in interviews with police. At first he said he was in bed and the vehicle was stolen; when confronted with evidence, he told deputies that for reasons he could not explain, he had gone to the Bass Lake area that night but had not driven his vehicle.

Alexander now faces charges of third-degree fleeing and eluding, a five-year felony, and lying to a police officer, a two-year felony. He was charged May 10 as a two-time habitual offender. He was convicted of attempted fleeing and eluding in 2008.