Roseville Cop Who Drove Wrong Way On Woodward Booked On Misdemeanor Charge
FERNDALE (WWJ) - An off-duty Roseville police officer — who was let off the hook by cops on the scene — is now facing a misdemeanor charge for driving recklessly in downtown Ferndale.
Ferndale police arrested and processed 40-year-old David Raymer of Macomb Township on a misdemeanor traffic warrant prior to his arraignment in 43rd District Court on Wednesday. The warrant was issued by the Ferndale City Attorney after reviewing the incident, which was caught on dash cam video on November 9.
According to police, Raymer was driving the wrong way on Woodward Ave. when Ferndale police pulled him over at around 12:30 a.m. Police said the officers suspected that Raymer was driving drunk, but he was not given a breathalyzer.
Instead, according to Ferndale Police Chief Timothy Collins, Raymer was given a ride home.
Collins said there's internal investigation into how his officers handled the incident.
"On the surface, this appears to be an example of poor decision-making by one of our lieutenants," Collins said, in a media release last week. "As a police department, we take cases of operating and driving under the influence incredibly seriously. It's a critical threat to public health and safety, and we as a department work regularly to educate the community to reduce instances of intoxicated driving."
Raymer had not been charged with drunken driving, likely due to a lack of evidence.
Roseville Police Chief James Berlin said Raymer has been placed on paid administrative leave. He called the incident an embarrassment to the department and its officers.
"He's a 14-year veteran of our department," Berlin told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "No prior disciplinary problems...So we like to think this as an isolated incident; obviously a very bad use of judgement when the event occurred."
Raymer pleaded not guilty to one misdemeanor charge of Reckless Driving (MCL 257.626) and was released on a personal bond. He is due back in court for a hearing on January 16.
