Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
In late November, Fruitport Township Police officer Timothy Thompson was arrested for allegedly driving drunk with a child in his vehicle. On December 3, Thompson was arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with an occupant under age 16 in the vehicle, according to a news article at Mlive.com. Thompson, who is 36 years old, was arraigned in 58th District Court.
Thompson was reportedly taken into custody in Coopersville in the early morning hours of November 22. According to a news article at Fox 17, he had a three month old baby in the car with him, and was driving with a blood alcohol content that was nearly twice Michigan’s legal limit of .08 percent.
Police Chief Ken Doctor also confirmed that Thompson had been arrested for driving under the influence, and that he had been terminated from his position with the police department. However, he did not indicate whether Thompson’s firing was a result of the drunk driving arrest. A trial date had not been set at the time of news reports.
If found guilty, Thompson may face fines of up to $1,000, a maximum of one year in county jail (five days mandatory minimum), or community service for 30 to 90 days.
Drunk driving is a very serious matter; in fact, it is a criminal offense that leaves those accused facing not only possible jail/prison time and fines if convicted, but driver’s license suspension, a criminal record, and more. As is evidenced in this case, individuals can lose their jobs when arrested for DUI. Your reputation and career may be ruined, and future employment opportunities can be lost.
If you have been arrested for driving while under the influence, regardless of the circumstances it is critical to work with a highly skilled Michigan DUI defense attorney who will thoroughly review your case and work with you to develop the most effective legal approach so that the best possible outcome can be reached.