Jeremy A. Pritchard, a 34-year-old Omer man who is currently on parole for a prior drunk driving conviction, has been arrested again for drunk driving. On this occasion however, he drove drunk with three others in the car, including a 6-year-old child.
The arrest occurred because Bay County Sheriff’s deputies were alerted to the fact that three drunk adults had just left a local restaurant in the company of a child. Employees at Sporty’s Wing Shack & Smokehouse in Pinconning Township had called 911 to report the incident in the hopes of averting potential disaster.
Deputies encountered the 2006 Dodge minivan driven by Pritchard as it pulled out of the restaurant parking lot and headed north on the M13. Deputies followed the vehicle for a while, before finally executing a traffic stop.
When asked by the officer if he could provide a driver’s license and relevant paperwork, Pritchard admitted that he didn’t currently have a license, as it was suspended, and was only driving because his girlfriend was feeling unwell.
The deputy administered a blood alcohol test and Pritchard’s results came back as 0.119. At first he told the arresting officer that he had consumed one beer prior to dinner, but after a brief conversation, admitted to having had three additional beers before that.
In the vehicle with Pritchard was another adult male, Pritchard’s girlfriend Savannah R. Kajdan, and Kajdan’s 6-year-old son. Deputies arrested Pritchard, but had someone else give Kadjan and her son a ride home.
Pritchard was arraigned by Judge Dawn A. Klida in the Bay County District Court on single counts of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, third offense, operating while intoxicated with a passenger younger than 16, second offense, and operating on a suspended/revoked/denied license, second offense.
Pritchard is likely to be tried as a habitual offender, as this is his fifth drunk driving incident, according to police reports. He is also currently on parole for a prior drunk driving conviction, for which he spent two years in prison and got out in July.
Pritchard’s bond was set at $15,000 cash-surety and his preliminary examination has been scheduled for 1:30 pm on Monday, October 20th before before District Judge Mark E. Janer.
