Man charged with third OWI after police chase
TRAVERSE CITY -- It started with a frantic 911 call, a police chase, and a crash. Now a Northern Michigan man is behind bars, charged with his third OWI.
This story has many twists and turns, but it all started Wednesday afternoon. The Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office says Carl Menzimer of Central Lake left the Goodwill Inn Drunk.
Employees called 911.
Captain Randy Fewless says, "We knew it was of serious nature based on the report."
A Deputy saw his vehicle run a red light and tried to pull him over on South Airport Road, but he kept going. He crashed into a delivery van at Cass Road causing it to roll.
Deputies finally rammed his car to stop it near the Grand Traverse Mall.
Captain Fewless says, "We don't do a lot of ramming of vehicles in chases, however because of what had occurred, and how he was trying to ram other cars off the road, we needed to end it."
No one was seriously injured in the pursuit, but deputies arrested Menzimer who they say had a blood alcohol level of .31, that’s close to four times the legal limit.
That's not his first drunk driving arrest, 7&4 News has learned Menzimer was charged with an OWI just 17 days ago in Antrim County. In 2001, he was convicted of drunk driving in Florida.
So why was he on the road? The Grand Traverse County Prosecutor says he was driving legally because he was issued a temporary license. Officials say that is typical protocol since the Antrim County case is ongoing, and the Florida OWI conviction happened ten years ago.
If he is found guilty of both pending cases, it could mean jail time and the loss of his license.
Besides an OWI, the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor also charged Menzimer with Fleeing and Alluding, Possession of a Dangerous Weapon, Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer, and Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident.
7&4 News will continue to follow this story and bring you details as soon as we get them.
