BY LARRY SOBCZAK
EDITOR
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s office has requested a bench warrant for Bruce Township Clerk Susan Brockmann for an alleged drunken driving incident that took place 3 a.m. on Sept. 11 at the Bruce Township Hall.
Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith’s office signed the request on Oct. 27 asking that Brockmann be charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) with a high blood alcohol content (BAC).
On Sept. 11, troopers from the Michigan State Police responded to a breaking and entering alarm at the township hall to find two cars parked near the building.
According to the state police, a trooper positioned his vehicle behind the parked vehicles and approached Brockmann who was in her vehicle using her cell phone.
According to a traffic report written by trooper Roger Haddad, Brockmann proceeded to place her 2007 Jeep Commander in reverse and back into the trooper’s vehicle, causing minor damage to both vehicles. No injuries were reported.
The trooper described Brockmann’s condition as emotional and asked her to perform a Breathalyzer test which he said indicated her blood alcohol content was 0.20 percent which is considered so-called “super drunk” under Michigan law.
The legal limit blood alcohol content under Michigan law is 0.08%.
Officials at the 42nd District Court said that they have not received the warrant request yet and therefore an arraignment has not been scheduled.
According to court officials and prosecutors, a bench warrant is delivered to a defendant and then the defendant is asked to appear before a judge in an arraignment hearing.
If the defendant does not appear before the court, the judge could issue an arrest warrant.
Officials at the state police, the prosecutor’s office and the 41 District Court said that Brockmann has received no special treatment because she is an elected official.
Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw said that it typically takes several weeks for the paperwork for this type of offense to be processed.
“We were waiting for the toxicology reports on this one,” he said.
Officials at the prosecutor’s office said that it requests more than 15,000 warrants per year with felonies and violent crimes taking priority over misdemeanors which can cause delays.
If convicted of OWI with blood alcohol content above 0.17% and if it’s only her first offense, Brockman could face misdemeanor penalties of:
- Up to $700 fine;
- Up to 180 days in jail;
- Up to 360 hours of community service;
- Up to one year license suspension;
- Six points on a driver’s license;
- Mandatory completion of an alcohol treatment program;
- Ignition interlock use and compliance after 45 days license suspension is required to receive a restricted driver’s license. Convicted drunk drivers have limited driving privileges, are prohibited from operating a vehicle without an approved and properly installed ignition interlock device, and are responsible for all installation and upkeep costs for the device.
Convicted drunken drivers are subject to a $1,000 penalty for two consecutive years under the Driver Responsibility Act, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs.
Some penalties can be doubled if it is a driver’s second offense or more.
Michigan adopted stiffer penalties for drivers found to have blood alcohol levels above 0.17 percent or “super drunk” in 2010.
Under Michigan election law, the governor can remove a township officer, such as a clerk, from office when the governor is satisfied from the evidence submitted that the township officer has been “guilty of habitual drunkenness” or has been convicted of being drunk.
Brockmann did not return a phone call for comment before press time. She did not attend the regular Bruce Township Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 9.
