By Gus Burns |
fburns@mlive.com
TROY, MI -- Oakland County
prosecutors charged 12-year veteran Troy Police Officer Candice LeForest with
driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level greater than .17.
A $1,000 bond was set during
her arraignment Tuesday. The case has been transferred from Troy to Novi's 52nd
District Court to avoid any possible conflict of interest in the officer's
jurisdiction.
Troy police pulled LeForest
over after observing her strike the median curb twice on eastbound Big Beaver
Road about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 18.
LeForest, a 34-year-old Macomb
resident, declined a breathalyzer and officers obtained a search warrant
authorizing a blood test be conducted. State police forensic analysts
determined LeForest had a blood-alcohol content of .27, three times the maximum
allowed while driving in Michigan.
A blood-alcohol level above .17
percent qualifies as "super drunk." Under Michigan's Super Drunk law,
penalties increase from up to 93 to 180 days of possible jail time and nearly
doubles the cost of court fines. Anyone convicted under the Super Drunk law
loses their driver's license for 45 days, is under restricted driving
limitations for 320 days and required to install an ignition device that forces
the driver to take a breathalyzer each time they start their vehicle.
MLive Detroit could not reach
Troy Police Department spokesman Sgt. Andy Breidenich for comment Friday.
Troy police issued a statement
regarding LeForest's arrest on Jan. 28. As of Tuesday, LeForest was on paid
administrative leave.
Oakland County Chief Assistant
Prosecutor Paul Walton said his office can charge based on field sobriety tests
but usually waits for blood-test results in cases when a breathalyzer is
declined.
He said getting the authority
for blood sample in suspected DUI cases is "routine" but rather
complex.
The agency completes paperwork
requesting a search warrant, sends it to a judge or magistrate and awaits a
signature. The officers then transport the suspect to a hospital where a
certified nurse or doctor must extract several blood samples using a special
kit that stops blood coagulation. Samples throughout the state are then sent to
the state police crime lab for analysis. Results can take weeks.
