Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog

In August of 2015, 20-year-old Jared Gerhardt was charged with a single count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury. The accident took place in March, when Gerhardt was allegedly driving 100 mph before his Camaro veered toward a sign and ultimately left the road before rolling numerous times and coming to rest in a field.

Three people were in the vehicle when the crash occurred; Gerhardt, 20-year-old Austin Myers, and 17-year-old Wyatt M. Barry. Myers and Gerhardt were thrown from the car during the accident. Barry ran to a nearby residence for help, and told deputies upon their arrival that Myers had been driving Gerhardt’s Camaro initially, but at some point the two switched places. Before the crash occurred, news articles indicate Myers grabbed the wheel while Gerhardt was driving when the vehicle began leaving the road, then Gerhardt overcorrected causing him to lose control.

Gerhardt, now 21 years old, pleaded guilty to the charge which is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Austin Myers suffered a broken arm in the crash, and Gerhardt was very remorseful in court according to reports, saying that he made a very bad decision and got behind the wheel under the influence. He also said he felt bad that his friend was hurt in the accident.

Recently, 27-year-old Jose A. Ortiz of Napa was stopped by St. Helena Police officers after failing to stop at a stop sign. Now, Ortiz faces a felony DUI charge after it was determined it was Ortiz’s fourth arrest for driving under the influence within the last 10 years, according to news reports.

Ortiz allegedly turned onto southbound Main Street from eastbound Spring Street without stopping; officers also noted that Ortiz sped up to 41 mph in a 25 mph zone before they pulled him over, according to Sgt. Chris Hartley.

Hartley claims that Ortiz had a BAC (blood alcohol content) above the .08 percent legal limit in California upon taking a breath test. He also failed field sobriety tests, and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. A fourth DUI arrest in California is charged as a felony rather than a misdemeanor. Ortiz was booked into the Napa County Jail.

In the early morning hours of March 20, a 20-year-old Norwalk woman was charged with drunk driving while underage and a litany of other charges after she fled the scene of a traffic stop, according to news reports. Jenna Jewell is accused of attacking police officers as well, and faces charges that in addition to DUI include reckless driving, use and possession of drug paraphernalia, engaging in pursuit, assault on a peace officer, and more.

Norwalk police officers claim that just before 3 a.m. on Sunday, they witnessed an SUV with its headlights turned off driving in a northbound direction on North Main St. Police followed the vehicle, and noticed the female driver was operating the SUV in an erratic manner. After Jewell allegedly ran a red light, police used lights and sirens and gave chase. Police claim that with headlights still off, she continued to ignore red lights and eventually pulled over at an intersection, where her SUV struck the curb.

As police scanned her license plate, the woman sped away once more and drove in a dangerous manner, nearly colliding with another vehicle. The next time she stopped, officers removed her from the SUV in an effort to prevent her from fleeing the scene once more.