Jared Staley

GLENNIE — Police reports detail a July drunk driving incident that left an Alcona County man dead.

Earlier this month, a judge heard evidence about the night Jared Staley, of Flushing, allegedly caused the death of Glennie resident Evan Whitford, 58, by driving while highly intoxicated.

Police reports from officers who responded in the early morning hours of July 9 say Staley appeared glassy-eyed and unstable as he talked to an officer, a pool of blood nearby.

Preliminary breath tests registered Staley’s blood alcohol content at more than twice the legal limit, according to police reports.

Staley, 33 at the time of the incident, told police he had had two beers before he and Whitford argued at a local bar.

According to witnesses, Staley left the bar angrily, then waited in his truck across the street, facing the bar, according to surveillance video shared with police.

Other surveillance video, supplied by local business owners, showed the two men having a heated conversation in the bar, then engaging in confrontational behavior with their vehicles on a nearby road.

The footage ended with Staley’s pickup truck following Whitford’s truck down Bamfield Road.

Some time after that, police were called to Bamfield Road, east of M-65 Highway in Curtis Township, where the first officer on scene found Staley in an ambulance, performing CPR on Whitford as emergency medical responders worked on Whitford and tried to get Staley to leave.

Staley told police Whitford had jumped through his truck window and attacked him, falling off and striking his head when Staley sped up.

Police earlier this year said they believe Staley struck Whitford with his vehicle. A woman at the scene told police Staley had run Whitford over, according to police reports.

Police arrested Staley at the scene for drunk driving. Whitford later died of his injuries, and police rearrested Staley on a charge of drunk driving causing death.

An 81st District Court judge at a hearing on Dec. 14 said Alcona County Prosecutor Tom Weichel had presented enough evidence to send Staley forward toward trial

A person convicted of drunk driving causing death could face a sentence of up to 20 years, depending on circumstances.

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693, jriddle@thealpenanews.com or on Twitter @jriddleX.