Could be heading back to prison because of incident

Jayson J. Maher, a 30-year-old man from Bay City, MI, assaulted an officer during a drunk driving arrest.  He is now facing multiple felony charges. Maher had been paroled for less than a month, having been released from prison in early April. He has served prison time for a variety of previous offenses, including assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, attempted arson of a dwelling and interfering with an electronic communications device.

At around midnight on Monday, April 28th, Maher was driving north on State street when he veered and struck the curb with his 2002 GMC Envoy. A Bay City police officer witnessed this, and followed him, turning on his lights and siren. Seeing the officer’s car, Maher accelerated and ran a stop sign on North Union.

He eventually pulled over, parking on a patch of lawn between two driveways. Maher then left his vehicle and fled the area on foot, heading towards a wooded lot. The officer gave chase, following Maher over a wooden fence and ending up in someone’s backyard in the 1000 block of North Henry Street.

Court records show that at this point Maher apparently turned to face the lieutenant, who then ordered him to lie flat on the ground. The officer then pulled his Taser. Maher refused to comply with the officer’s demands, and so the officer stunned him with the Taser.

Maher and the officer struggled on the ground. Maher refused to submit to the arrest and became aggressive, at which point the officer punched him on the left side of his face. At this time the owner of the backyard came outside and the officer had him call 911. The civilian assisted the officer in getting Maher’s arms behind his back so that he could be handcuffed. Soon after, two other officers arrived.

According to police reports, Maher smelled of alcohol and appeared to be inebriated. He refused to take a Breathalyzer test and denied driving the Envoy which he had abandoned.

Bay County Chief District Judge, Timothy J. Kelly, arraigned Maher that same afternoon on single counts of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing police causing injury, which is a four-year felony, and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, second offense, which is a one-year misdemeanor, and also operating a motor vehicle on a revoked, denied or suspended driver’s license, which is a 93-day misdemeanor.

Judge Kelly set Maher’s bond at $100,000. Maher is scheduled to appear for a preliminary examination before District Judge Dawn A. Klida on Monday, May 12th at 1:30pm.