News

Durand police officer charged with drunk driving

By DOMINIC ADAMS Argus-Press Staff Writer

Friday, May 16, 2008 10:21 AM EDT

FLUSHING - A Durand police officer charged with drunk driving is on disability leave.

Court records in Genesee County reveal Lex A. Crooks appeared Monday before 67th District Court Judge David Goggins for allegedly operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Court records also show the hearing came after his arraignment was deferred twice.

Durand Police Chief Mike Tanner said Crooks' disability started April 12. Tanner refused to comment further because it is a personnel matter.

Flushing Township Police Officer Bryan Bowman said he found Crooks' pickup truck in a ditch along M-13 at 2:15 a.m. April 12.

When Bowman arrived at the vehicle he found Crooks - who was off-duty - lying horizontal across both bucket seats, according to the police report.

Bowman said he then climbed into the bed of the truck and asked Crooks if he needed medical attention.

“He then mumbled a few (words), none of which I was able to understand,” Bowman wrote in his report. “I detected a strong scent of alcohol on his breath and person and observed that his injuries were serious.”

After Crooks was removed from his vehicle, emergency responders from Genesee County told Bowman the victim was an off-duty police officer and extremely intoxicated, according to police documents.

A witness told police Crooks was driving east on Juddville Road when he ran a stop sign. When the witness approached the intersection, he saw Crooks' vehicle with its lights on and horn sounding.

Court records show Crooks' blood alcohol content - taken at the hospital - was 0.16. The legal limit is 0.08.

Police also seized one Sig Sauer 239.40 caliber handgun with three full magazines, two magazines in a black leather pouch, 14 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition and a clip of .223-caliber ammunition, five rounds of 12-gauge slugs, 38 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition and three more bags and one box of .40-caliber ammunition.

Crooks is free on a $3,000 personal recognizance bond and will have a pretrial hearing in Flushing May 29. He also must submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

Crooks is one of six full-time police officers in Durand.

- Dominic Adams may be reached at 725-5136 extension 239 or by e-mail at dadamsarguspress@gmail.com.

Comment on this Story

jody wrote on May 20, 2008 9:32 AM:

" WOW! sounds like the whole town has already made up there minds about his guilt. Do not misunderstand, he should have face the same laws and conciquences as anyone else but hows about waiting until hes actually been proven guility. Along with that conviction Im not sure if the public realizes he will not be able to be a police officer anymore. His degree is useless. It is the same with nurses, there lisence is gone if they get a dui. Now I feel that after he serves his sentence,if he is found guility,that he should be allowed to work as an officer again. Just my thoughts. "

john doe wrote on May 20, 2008 8:39 AM:

" Police are held to a higher standard. However, they are human and make mistakes. I think he needs the help and carry on with his life. Yes, he should be punished, but not with his job. If your friend at work got caught doing the same thing would you agree with him getting fired. People need to step back and take a longer look at the situation. No matter what happens that officer spent the last 12 year, serving and protecting the citizens of durand. There has been many citizens that police follow home, and give a brake, but now you want to hang him out to dry, it is not right. "

Sandy wrote on May 17, 2008 7:10 AM:

" Well as of late, I know of only a couple of Attorney's in our Town of Durand, Thank goodness. Or You good stand up people in Durand, would have him hung by a rope. I do not care who you are, a police officer or a person who lives in Durand and are just a pizza delivery person. The law is the law. And our prison's and Jail's are full. But everyone gets their day in court, and does not and should not be pursurcuted by the people until they have there day in court. Now maybe all of you good people can rise up those of you who are without sin in their lives. I live in Durand. And the system may not be the best. But I would rather have the Durand police protecting me then any other police department. Heck a bank in corunna is robbed, and the police station is only a couple blooks away, what a joke. This police officer will have his day in court. And the people will not like it, and will yell cover up all day long. So what else is new. At least I can say, I have seen certin people who are pretty upstanding in this community, buy playboy book, should they be hung to. Or the up standing one's who buy a fifth of Whiskey once a month. Should they be hung out to dry to. We vote for a reason. And if you can not drag your sorry butts out of bed to vote, or are to busy to vote to make the changes. Then stop conplaining. Have a great day. "

Mad at the system wrote on May 16, 2008 11:07 AM:

" Okay, We are giving this officer the axe before he goes to trail. Kristy said it all though, "DRUNK IS DRUNK". I had a 14 year old friend die to a drunk driver. That officer should know better. Has he not cleaned up a body or a kid from a drunk driver??? I just dont understand why a man of the law would do such a thing? My only concern is did he really think he was above the law? Is he really going to continue this behavior in hope he dont get cought? He needs to be ordered to AA meeting and Maybe do some Kind of treatment that he sees what drinking and driving does....cause I just feel that he hasnt seen enough to not do it again. Like sit in sessions for families of victims of drunk driving. He might learn a thing or too. "

Jim wrote on May 16, 2008 9:43 AM:

" A few days ago it was a gentleman from New Lothrop, who had his license to sell liquor at his tavern temporarily suspended due to alleged "back taxes", etc. Today now finds an off duty police officer having "his turn in the barrel."

Why is this reporter publishing select bits and pieces and "convicting" folks via the media before they are given a fair chance by the Judicial system? It sounds like the Argus needs to have a Judge, in house, so Dominic Adams can run this "tabaloid" style reporting, preying on others misfortunes and mistakes, for the sake of a "story". I cannot believe that the Argus has lowered its standards for reporting to the point of playing "judge and jury", without giving any consideration to the damage they are causing to these people, their families, businesses, and communities. These people deserve fair and equal treatment under the law, and should not be singled out as a candidate for this "witch hunt type reporting" such as appears in this article. No wonder the Sheriff will not give the Argus information, at least he is trying to protect the accused until they have had a fair chance to be judged by the judicial system, and not by the media. So sorry to see the Argus doing this, it is very unprofessional,cheap, and very damaging to the communities that they serve. Hope it stops soon. "

Durand Resident wrote on May 16, 2008 7:23 AM:

" To ex durand resident:

What does walking down the "wrong side" of the road mean?

We walk about town every day, weather permitting, and have never spent time thinking we are going to be stopped by a police officer. Even when we see a cruiser, the thought never crosses our mind.

We haven't engaged in any illegal activity, don't have warrants out, so there is no reason for paranoia.

Are there "crooked cops" in Durand? How do you know this?

You state that the "crooked cops" need to get caught so they know how it feels.

I think that explains your attitude. You got caught, you know how it feels... "

Dan wrote on May 16, 2008 6:35 AM:

" No way he would have got busted in Shiawassee. They would have given him a free ride home probably piking up a six pack on the way. "

ex durand resident wrote on May 15, 2008 2:25 PM:

" Ha! living in durand was terrible you were scared to walk down the wrong side of the road without thinking you were gonna get stopped by a cop. hopefully all the crooked cops in durand get caught for something. so then they can see how it feels. "

Christine wrote on May 15, 2008 12:32 PM:

" Wonder why when Chief Tanner doesn't comment due to "personnel matters" it's ok but, If the Sheriff doesn't comment due to personnel matters it's a cover up? "

Lisa wrote on May 15, 2008 12:19 PM:

" Please please tell me that while this officer is on disability leave that he is not receiving a paycheck. The citizens of Durand should not have to pay while this officer decided to be stupid! "

William Tressler wrote on May 15, 2008 12:13 PM:

" Re:Kristy's comments
Your comment was great up to the "Lets hope he gets help...". Lets hope he gets the book thrown at him and he spends some quality jail time. And what's this disability stuff? "

Mad at the system wrote on May 15, 2008 10:50 AM:

" This is a prime example why people dont trust the system. I feel that he should be treated just as if he was a citizen not an officer, A 3000$ personal recognizance bond is a slap to our faces. I dont Think that is punishment. He shouldnt have a job at all. You can see he thinks he is above the law with the weapons and the shells, drinking and driving. I am just mad that he is getting a slap on the wrist. I know he has not been in trial yet but he is a man of uniform and until he kills someone they will let him go. "

Steve Bila wrote on May 15, 2008 10:39 AM:

" I argee with Kristy,Cop or not he broke the Law and should be punished like any other Person that did that would be. If a Cop is off duty and is caring a Gun(S)he or she should also get what I would get if I was pulled over and had Gun's in my Truck. Make a example out of him and give him what anyone else would get! "

Kristy wrote on May 14, 2008 8:31 PM:

" Cop or NOT, DRUNK is Drunk! And driving and running stop signs could have easily resulted in a fatal crash with innocent victims. HOWEVER being that he is a cop, he SHOULD have known better. Maybe he hasnt been to enough accident scenes, where they are picking up pieces of innocent victims of drunk drivers. Let's hope he gets the HELP he needs, of course he has probably lost alot of credibility due to this, and his job may never be the same. That alone is going to be punishment enough. "

happy wrote on May 14, 2008 6:38 PM:

" about time a cop from shiawassee county got busted for illegal activities. just go figure it wasn't in that county "