Former state House Speaker Craig DeRoche arraigned on gun charge
Less than two weeks ago, former state House Speaker Craig DeRoche was sentenced to six months of probation on an impaired driving charge stemming from his arrest in Saline in February.
And early Sunday, DeRoche was arrested again in Novi after a family member called and said he was intoxicated and carrying a gun, the Detroit Free Press is reporting.
DeRoche’s wife told police she was out of town and concerned for her three children because DeRoche was caring for them but sounded intoxicated on the phone when she called, the Free Press article said. When DeRoche saw police lights approaching, he ran into a wooded area and police couldn’t immediately find him, the report said.
Craig DeRoche
According to the Free Press, the mother-in-law told police DeRoche broke into his locked home shortly after, retrieved a loaded, 40-caliber handgun from a safe in the home’s master bedroom and walked into one of his children’s bedrooms. He left the bedroom and his mother-in-law convinced him to turn the gun over to her, the report said.
When police arrived shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday, DeRoche was holding one of his children and told police he had done nothing wrong, the Free Press reported. They were able to convince him to put down the child before arresting him.
The Free Press reports his blood alcohol content was 0.13, above the legal limit of 0.08 to be considered drunken driving.
In the earlier Saline arrest, DeRoche pleaded guilty to impaired driving. He was sentenced earlier this month to six months of probation and $1,060 in fines. He also received a 92-day suspended jail sentence and was ordered to refrain from alcohol or controlled substances, attend substance abuse meetings and submit to random drug and alcohol screenings.
Police reports indicated witnesses saw DeRoche staggering in the snow near downtown Saline at about 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9. Reports say he tried to evade officers by entering multiple businesses, and he was found sitting next to an electrical transformer behind a building.
Reports said officers were unable to perform standard sobriety tests because of his level of intoxication, which preliminary tests determined was .249, three times the legal limit to operate a vehicle in Michigan.
Officers found DeRoche’s Cadillac parked in a nearby driveway with significant tire and side damage. He said he was leaving the city after having a few drinks at a business meeting when the tire blew out.
If found guilty of the new charge, DeRoche also would have to face charges of violating his probation on the first charge and possibly have to serve the full jail sentence of the first charge, former Macomb County Prosecutor Carl Marlinga told the Free Press.
The Novi Republican served in the State Legislature from 2003 to 2009, including two years as house speaker before he was term limited out of office. He currently owns an insurance services company.
Comments
blugoose
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 : 7:07 p.m.
Something tells me Judge Simpson is about to fix Mr. DeRoche's little red wagon.
Chuck
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 : 10:30 a.m.
Glad he's out of office - He's VERY typical of our incompetent leaders in Michigan. He'll probably skate like all the rest of the good old boys do.
LBH
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 : 10:17 a.m.
It appears that this man's life is falling apart even though he appears to possess all of the societal advantages of our times. It's very sad for him and for his family and he will hopefully turn things around. Perhaps after he does he will be less inclined to pass judgment on others who are suffering with their lives in a shambles. It seems pretty clear that it is all the morally superior yap yap that is continuously dished out that makes people targets when they fall. BTW "Libs" do not have a corner on the market when it comes to stone throwing. This should be alarmingly obvious to anybody reading coverage of any political race lately.
uawisok
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 : 9:18 a.m.
well,well another of the god and gun party member shown to be just like Brooks Patterson and Rush Limbaugh...
rouzer
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 : 8:28 a.m.
Hmmm, let's see, silly sally, what did he do that was 'wrong?' 1. violated probation 2. intoxicated while 3 children were in his care 3. intoxicated and carrying a loaded gun while 3 children were in his care 4. ran when police arrived to investigate Now, what could possibly be considered 'wrong' with any of this? Loaded guns + alcohol do not make a safe situation, especially when the adult is supposed to be caring for children.
Silly Sally
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 : 4:26 a.m.
What exactly did he do that was wrong? He was drunk at his own home. He had a gun at his own home, inside. He may have violated his probation, but that seems like an unnecessary requirement for probation. I had a friend who was once arrested for drunk driving. He was borderline and was fouind "not guilty". But from then on, whenever we went out and he knew that he was going to be drinking, he gave me the keys and had me drive. I agree that he needs help, as a 0.25 is awfully high, even if he were not driving.
KathrynHahn
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 : 1:11 a.m.
Sounds like the guy needs to be sentenced to mandatory rehab, and maybe one of those cute little ankle bracelets. People with alcohol problems should NOT have access to guns either! Alcohol and guns are never a good match.
stunhsif
Tue, Jun 29, 2010 : 9:53 p.m.
Before all the A2 Libs start posting, I will suggest that this guy needs help and a break. Let's not throw stones or rocks folks, none of us are perfect. He needs to get out of politics and concentrate on his rehab and his family. Some of us, Dems,Repubs and Independants have problems dealing with life. Give the guy a break, let him get his _ _ _ _ together!