Fleeing driver arraigned   

Justin T. Lopez

The driver who fled police on a motorcycle and assaulted an officer was arraigned yesterday.  Justin T. Lopez, 18, of Cedar continues to be held on $100,000 bond.  Lopez tried to flee at speeds over 115 miles per hour before crashing.  He ran from the scene and resisted arrest and assault an officer as attempts were made to apprehend him.

Lopez is scheduled to have a preliminary examination Friday in District Court.  He is charged with 3 felonies and a misdemeanor. 

 

 

Corrections officer suspended by Sheriff

A discipline hearing was held Monday for Leelanau County Sheriff's Office corrections officer Jeffrey D. Kassab.  Kassab was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated after he showed up for work intoxicated last week.  He pleaded guilty as charged to OWI with a High BAC > .17% on Friday.  His blood alcohol level was .25 after his arrest.

Sheriff Mike Borkovich suspended Kassab for 32 days without pay.  Kassab will remain suspended until his sentencing date in District Court December 20.

TC man arrested for felony OWI

A 51 year-old Traverse City man was arrested by Leelanau County deputies for 3rd offense drunk driving Monday.  A motorist called Leelanau Dispatch at 10:26 p.m. to report an erratic driver operating in the wrong lane on S West Bay Shore Drive near Carter Road.  The driver pulled into a business and parked in the middle of the parking lot.

Deputies made contact with the man and found his vehicle still running and in drive.  They had the man put the vehicle was put into park and began an OWI investigation.  The man appeared very intoxicated and said he had just had a fight with his girlfriend.  A partially filled bottle of vodka was located in the man's coat pocket.

Field sobriety tasks were given and the man failed them all.  A preliminary breath test was given with a .268 result.  The driver refused to take the Datamaster breath test so a search warrant was obtained and a blood sample taken at Munson Medical Center.

The suspect remains jailed in Leelanau County on OWI III, Driving While Suspended and Possession of Open Intoxicants charges.  No bond has been set yet.