Drunken Drivers: Slap Officer in the Face, Drink in Front of Officer

A man pulled over for drunken driving on Sept. 19 took a pull from a bottle of liquor on his passenger seat as Troy Police officers watched him.

Police said that the incident at 14 Mile Road and I-75 started at about 12:52 a.m., when the 24-year-old man from Hazel Park was pulled over for weaving and speeding. Officers noted that he had a strong odor of alcohol before he reached over to pick up a bottle of Southern Comfort which had been previously opened and began to drink from it.

The man could not stand on his own to perform field tests and was arrested for operating while intoxicated and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. A blood draw was conducted with results pending.

The next night, a 24-year-old Sterling Heights man pulled over for drunken driving slapped an officer in the face. The incident took place at Maple Road and Dequindre Road at 12:52 a.m., as officers made the stop after watching the man's car weaving and nearly strike a curb. The officers noted the man had slurred speech and watery, bloodshot eyes.

The driver admitted to drinking and failed sobriety tests, leading to his arrest. When the officers requested he to take a breath test, he became combative and slapped the officer in the face. The driver was charged with assault and battery and operating while intoxicated. A blood draw was conducted with results pending. 

More recent police highlights 

• Troy Smoke Shop, 186 W. Maple Rd., Sept. 18, 4:41 p.m.: Troy officers observed two teenagers go into the store and exit with a package. The teenagers appeared under 18 years of age and by law cannot purchase tobacco products. The officers stopped the teenager’s vehicle and discovered they had purchased a “bong” and a “grinder,” both typically used to smoke marijuana. The teens advised they had just purchased the items from the Smoke Shop. Officers entered the smoke shop and advised the owner of the sale he had just made to minors. The owner admitted to the sale and said he did not have time to identify the teens because he was busy. The shop owner was issued a citation for selling or furnishing tobacco to a minor. The teens, both 16-year-olds from Troy were issued citations for possession of tobacco products.