Macomb County Man Arraigned on 9th Drunk Driving Charge

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — A New Haven man convicted on eight previous charges of operating a car while intoxicated was arraigned Monday on the same charge in 42-1 Romeo District Court, according to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.

Gary Hendricks, 49, was issued a $10,000 bond and is due back at the district court on Nov. 14 for a probable cause conference. He was arrested Nov. 1 after a crash in Ray Township, police said.

Because of his prior convictions, the operating under the influence charge is a felony, according to state law. Hendricks also faces three other charges in connection with the crash:

• Operating While License Suspended, Revoked, Denied Second Offense (misdemeanor)
• Motor Vehicle Operation without Security (misdemeanor)
• License Plate Unlawful Use (misdemeanor).

The crash occurred at about 1 a.m. on 26 Mile Road west of North Avenue. The Sheriff's Office said Hendricks crashed his 1996 blue Plymouth Voyager into a mailbox and then hit the guard wires of a DTE Energy pole, causing it to snap.

According to officials, deputies found the vehicle resting against the guard wires. Hendricks, who was the Voyager's lone occupant, refused a preliminary breath test. A search warrant for his blood was obtained and he was arrested for operating while intoxicated, the Macomb County Sheriff's office reported.

Arraignment for Hendricks was delayed until Monday because of injuries he suffered in the crash. He had been hospitalized, police said.

Photo courtesy of the Macomb County Sheriff's Office.