Suspected drunk driver pulled over for swerving on I-75 in Oakland County had handgun, numerous felony convictions: MSP

OAKLAND COUNTY (WWJ) - When state police stopped a reckless driver along I-75 in Oakland County on Friday evening, they say he wasn't only suspected of being drunk, but he also had a handgun and an extensive criminal past.

Michigan State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw said the "dangerous driver" was arrested, but credited the community for alerting law enforcement when they noticed something wasn't right.

According to Shaw, numerous 911 calls about a reckless driver on I-75 in Oakland County came flooding into the Detroit Regional Communications Center just before 11 p.m. on Friday, December 29th.

A trooper spotted the vehicle described by callers in the northbound lanes on I-75 at Dixie Highway in Groveland Township and initiated a traffic stop for improper lane use.

Upon speaking with the driver, identified as a 69-year-old Detroit man, the trooper notice multiple signs of intoxication and had the driver preform field sobriety tests -- of which MPS said he performed poorly.

The man was arrested for driving while impaired -- but when searching his vehicle, the trooper discovered he had a .40 cal Sig P320 handgun under the driver's seat and didn't posses a valid CPL.

A further inquiry into the man's background reveal he has numerous felony convictions.

A warrant for the man's blood was obtained and the man was taken to the Oakland County Jail.

"Thank you to members of the community who noticed the driving of this suspect and called 911," Shaw added. "Working together with these callers we were able to take a dangerous driver and an illegally carried handgun off the street."