Speaking as an EX-Michigander myself, Port Huron was/is as bad a place to be stuck in as Flint. Broken-down small city with huge drug problems. It is the "other" road crossing into Canada, and as such I used to go through it quite often on my way to St. Catharines Ontario, (GM plant). It was not a place to stop to buy gas, I can tell you.
Should add that Richmond is 20 miles from Port Huron. Odd that he was so far from home at 1:00 AM.
I live in port huron. It’s not as bad as you say. Drugs are a problem. Mostly Detroit dope slingers looking to branch out.
CC