Drunken driver involved in Burger King disturbance sentenced up to 5 years
Robert Addie
Courtesy of WCSO
A 39-year-old Ypsilanti man was sentenced Thursday to up to five years in prison for striking a police officer with his vehicle while driving drunk in the parking lot of a Pittsfield Township Burger King.
It was just the latest drunken driving conviction for Robert Lamont Addie, his attorneys said he has been convicted on felony charges of operating while intoxicated three times now. In previous court proceedings, it was revealed Addie also was convicted of drunken driving in 1994, 1999, 2001 and 2006.
Judge David Swartz sentenced Addie to 2 to 5 years on operating while intoxicated, third offense, 2 to 4 years on one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and 1 to 2 years on resisting arrest charges. The sentences will run concurrently.
Addie apologized to the court, his family and the police officer he struck.
"I wish I could take the day back," he said. "It hurts me deeply. My deepest apologies go to the officer."
Swartz wouldn't immediately make a decision about whether he would allow Addie to do Michigan Department of Corrections boot camp. Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor John Vella pointed out Addie already had been sentenced to boot camp on one of his prior felony drunken driving convictions.
Assistant Washtenaw County Public Defender Christopher Renna said Addie had lifelong alcohol problems and requested boot camp be an option.
"He's someone who made a terrible, terrible decision getting in a car that day," Renna said. "He feels horrible about what he did to this officer."
Swartz said he would make a decision about boot camp if and when the department of corrections decided Addie qualified for it.
Pittsfield Township police initially were called to the Burger King at 6190 W. Michigan Ave., — nearly right across the street from the police station — at 1:38 p.m. on Feb. 14, after receiving reports that two men inside a 2003 Ford Taurus were “causing a disturbance with employees” as they went through the drive-thru.
Officers repeatedly told Addie, who was driving, to park the Taurus.
Police say Addie accelerated at a high rate of speed through the parking lot and struck an officer before leaving.
The officer was knocked to the ground and suffered minor injuries.
The officers pursued the Taurus on a short chase west on Michigan Avenue, which ended at Saulk Trail Drive. Police say Addie resisted arrest but eventually was subdued and taken into custody.
Swartz denied a request from the prosecution for $67 in restitution for the police officer's pants, which were torn during the incident.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Perry White
Sat, Jun 15, 2013 : 10:47 p.m.
We really should know when this offense occurred before the tenth paragraph. It would so easy to add to the first sentence.
zucker
Sat, Jun 15, 2013 : 2:42 p.m.
I say we wait until this guy hits a minivan full of children and kills the entire family until he goes to jail for good. I mean seriously, he has a drinking problem and he feels horrible about it. Can't we give him ONE more chance?
mady
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 6:46 p.m.
zucker, he feels horrible because he's going to jail.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jun 15, 2013 : 12:54 p.m.
A max. of 5 years in prison isn't going to solve this or any other kind of addiction. So we just don't talk about that.
Paul
Sat, Jun 15, 2013 : 2:02 a.m.
Courts are soft on crime, ha
Kitty
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 7:43 p.m.
I wish I could take the day back," he said. "It hurts me deeply. My deepest apologies go to the officer."
nickcarraweigh
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 7:30 p.m.
Some hotshot young Thomas Dewey-wannabe in the prosecutor's office should look into whoever is forcing Pittsfield Twp. police to pay $67 a pair for uniform trousers. That's a crime.
John Counts
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 7:02 p.m.
The sentences are concurrent. I will add that information to the story. Thanks.
Cash
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 6:57 p.m.
I'm assuming the sentences are concurrent. So he might not spend even 5 years. Is that right?
clara
Sat, Jun 15, 2013 : 2:53 a.m.
correct, he'll do about or a little less than 2 years unless he has problems in prison.
nunya
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 6:32 p.m.
$67? Police uniform pants are expensive!
Frustrated in A2
Sat, Jun 15, 2013 : 9:03 p.m.
And those are the cheaper ones.
ThinkingOne
Sat, Jun 15, 2013 : 5:48 p.m.
Yes they are. And now your taxes are buying another pair of pants instead of making the convicted person perform restitution.
Basic Bob
Sat, Jun 15, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.
They just got an extra $1M a year for public safety. I think they can afford it.
justcurious
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 5:37 p.m.
"He's someone who made a terrible, terrible decision getting in a car that day," I for one a really tired of hearing this lame excuse.
mady
Sat, Jun 15, 2013 : 3:42 p.m.
yeah, me too.
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 5:04 p.m.
"Swartz denied a request from the prosecution for $67 in restitution for the police officer's pants, which were torn during the incident." Without restitution for the torn pants, there can be no justice.
JBK
Sat, Jun 15, 2013 : 1:12 a.m.
Know God? NO God! :)
Homeland Conspiracy
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 7:20 p.m.
No pants, no peace!
John of Saline
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 6:23 p.m.
No pants, no peace!
actionjackson
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.
Alcoholism is a "trick bag." Hope this guy figures it out and becomes a productive soul after he is through with the consequences from this ill fated timing.
Billy
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 4:19 p.m.
"He's someone who made a terrible, terrible decision getting in a car that day," Renna said. Not just that day...but apparently days in 1994, 1999, 2001 and 2006 too...
TheGerman
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 5:45 p.m.
And all the numerous other times he didn't get caught!