News

Durand cop's trial delayed for 5th time

By DOMINIC ADAMS Argus-Press Staff Writer

Friday, August 29, 2008 10:15 AM EDT

FLINT - A final pretrial for a former Durand police officer charged with drunk driving was delayed again.

A final pretrial conference for Lex A. Crooks is now set for Sept. 3 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge David J. Goggins in 67th District's Central Court in Flint.

Crooks was to appear Thursday for a final pretrial on misdemeanor operating a vehicle while intoxicated charge.

Flushing Township Attorney Steve Moulton offered to amend the charges to reckless operation, court documents show. Crooks would have to have alcohol screening as part of his sentence.

Durand Police Chief Mike Tanner fired Crooks in June after he crashed his pickup truck along M-13 in Flushing Township.

A witness said Crooks ran a stop sign and put his truck in a ditch about 2:15 a.m. April 12, according to a police report.

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

The City Council also denied Crooks' appeal of Tanner's decision to fire him.

Tanner said Crooks' full-time position is still vacant. Part-time officers are covering Crooks' 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift.

“Right now it's in the grievance procedure,” Tanner said of Crooks' status. “Basically it's going to be up to the union if they're going to file for arbitration.”

A jury trial date is tentatively set for Sept. 11.

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

Comment on this Story

Big Rich wrote on Sep 11, 2008 8:10 PM:

" Nice paragraph Bojangle, you really need to go back to school and learn how to wright, because if you can't wright, then I'll bet you can't read to know the facts of the case!! Sorry but the truth does hurt, I know!!!! "

bojangle wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:06 PM:

" do you really think that if a normal joe got arrested for drunk driving after crashing as crooks did, would get thier charge dropped down to reckless operation. I think not so why should he so what he was fired not good enough. Its very unfair. So what he's an x cop not a reason to drop the charges to something else. "