Authorities say a woman was late to her own trial Monday on a drunken driving charge that dates back 11 years, prompting a Washtenaw County judge to issue a bench warrant for her arrest.

Pamela Jewett of Royal Oak was scheduled for trial on a charge of third-offense drunken driving. When she didn't arrive by 9:40 a.m., Circuit Judge Archie Brown issued a warrant for her arrest.

Jewett, 55, was free on a personal bond at the time. She faced up to five years in prison if convicted of operating while intoxicated for the third time during the trial, which was scheduled to last one day.

Saline Police Detective Don Lupi said assistant public defender Laura Graham told the court Jewett called and was running late. She arrived after the bench warrant was signed but left before she could be apprehended as Graham, Lupi and prosecutors were returning to the courthouse from nearby offices.

Roughly 40 potential jurors waited in the courthouse and were dismissed.

Public Defender Lloyd Powell said in an e-mail Tuesday that because the jury panel was released, his client left with an understanding to turn herself in at another time.

“Ms. Jewett was free to leave to later turn herself in on an expected future warrant for a trial date that will now have to be rescheduled sometime in the future,” he wrote.

Powell said Jewett doesn’t drive and stays with her sister in Imlay, east of Macomb County, to get a ride when she needs to report to court.

Lupi was a patrol officer when he arrested Jewett in May 1999.

A motorist called police about an erratic driver headed through Saline on Michigan Avenue at about 10 a.m., reports said. Lupi intercepted the Buick sedan going eastbound and followed it for more than a mile before the driver pulled over near Industrial Drive. He witnessed her vehicle strike the curb and swerve over the centerline, reports said.

Jewett, who was barefoot and driving with her dog, exited the car and admitted to drinking two beers before leaving home in a hurry, reports said. Officers found a cold six-pack of beer and one open can inside the vehicle.

She was driving her mother’s car and initially gave her sister’s name, address and date-of-birth, reports said.

Lupi said he discovered her real identity and two prior drunken driving offenses while booking her at the Saline Police Department. Preliminary breath tests showed a blood alcohol content of .20, more than double the legal limit to drive in Michigan.

Jewett was released upon sobering up and was charged with operating while intoxicated, driving on a revoked license and providing a false identity to police.

Then she disappeared, Lupi said. Police couldn't find her at several different addresses in the metro Detroit area over the past decade, but an extensive record search last February led to a correct address in Washington, Mich.

Lupi still had the report and the video tape recording of the traffic stop, which is expected to be key evidence at trial.

Court records show Jewett was ordered to stand trial at a preliminary hearing earlier this year, and her request to adjourn the trial date was denied earlier this month.

Lupi said he was frustrated by Monday's events but remains optimistic the case will be resolved.

“After 11 years, what’s a few more months? It’s not like I’ll forget about it,” he said.

Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.