Man admits to sideswiping police officer while driving drunk in Burger King parking lot
Robert Addie
Courtesy of WCSO
A 39-year-old Ypsilanti man admitted Thursday to striking a police officer while driving drunk in the parking lot of a Pittsfield Township Burger King in February.
Robert Lamont Addie pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of resisting a police officer, fourth-degree fleeing police and operating while intoxicated, third offense.
A count of assault with intent to commit bodily harm less than murder was dismissed, as was Addie's habitual offender status. It was revealed in court that he has been convicted of drunken driving in 1994, 1999, 2001 and 2006.
Judge David Swartz asked Addie to recount what he did to make him think he was guilty of the charges.
Addie told the court he had been drinking when he was driving his car at the Burger King and a police officer directed him to move his vehicle to a specific spot.
"When I pulled over the car it pretty much, kind of sideswiped the officer," Addie said.
Pittsfield Township police were initially called to the Burger King at 6190 W. Michigan Ave. — nearly right across the street from the police station -- at 1:38 p.m. Feb. 14 after receiving reports that two men inside a 2003 Ford Taurus were “causing a disturbance with employees” as they went through the drive-thru.
Officers repeatedly told Addie, who was driving, to park the Taurus.
Police say Addie accelerated at a high rate of speed through the parking lot and struck an officer before leaving.
The officer was knocked to the ground and suffered minor injuries.
The officers pursued the Taurus on a short chase west on Michigan Avenue, which ended at Saulk Trail Drive. Police say Addie resisted arrest but was eventually subdued and taken into custody.
A sentencing agreement was not part of the plea deal. Addie is scheduled to be sentenced June 13. He remains free on a a 10 percent of $7,500 bond, according to court records.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
swcornell
Sun, May 12, 2013 : 7:19 p.m.
I wangt to know why we allow drunks w/ multiple convictions to even posses a car? If you don't allow them to have a car then there only choice is to steel one, which certainly puts them in prison!
fanny
Sun, May 12, 2013 : 2:48 p.m.
"A count of assault with intent to commit bodily harm less than murder was dismissed, as was Addie's habitual offender status. It was revealed in court that he has been convicted of drunken driving in 1994, 1999, 2001 and 2006." Why would it be agreed upon to dimiss Addie's habitual offender status? Does it take him killing someone before the State takes his driver's license away? I am so sick of these plea deals which puts all of us in harms way!
BHarding
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 1:19 p.m.
Is he actually allowed to keep his driver's license? How many strikes before he's out?
Ann English
Sun, May 12, 2013 : 12:31 a.m.
In baseball, just ONE catch gets you out. Looks like that baseball rule has no parallel with criminal law.
zucker
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 9:15 p.m.
convicted 4 times already and still on the road..... Who are the clowns doing the sentencing in these cases?
Solitude
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 8:49 p.m.
Habitual Offender should NEVER be dismissed, ever. This is why we see 20-time felons continuing to commit serious crimes in our communities. It's outrageous. This guy's been convicted of drunk driving four times already, so this is number 5. This county's prosecutor's office is a JOKE.
sellers
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 3:03 p.m.
Ahh, so repeat offense charges after three carry no additional weight, so dropping it as part of the plea was no loss to the prosecution. If that is the case - wise move.
Solitude
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 8:52 p.m.
For clarification, Operating while Intoxicated Third Offense is the charge for the third offense and all subsequent offenses, if any.
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 4:44 p.m.
This could have been so much worse - at least there were no baby ducks in the parking lot.
John
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 7:30 p.m.
Not cool man...
justcurious
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 4:13 p.m.
"A count of assault with intent to commit bodily harm less than murder was dismissed, as was Addie's habitual offender status. " Why would this be? Looks like he is a habitual offender to me. "It was revealed in court that he has been convicted of drunken driving in 1994, 1999, 2001 and 2006."
John Counts
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 4:30 p.m.
Certain charges are generally dismissed as part of plea deals.
John Counts
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 4:06 p.m.
Not unusual, nickcarraweigh. Plea deals don't have sentencing agreements probably just as frequently as they do.
nickcarraweigh
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 3:51 p.m.
I wonder if the lack of a pre-arranged sentence agreement on a plea bargain is as unusual as I think it is
zigziggityzoo
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 12:10 a.m.
Sometimes a plea deal is just to remove more serious charges from the table.
cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 5:38 p.m.
judge doesnt have to follow prosecuters recamendation,ever.