Charlevoix man arrested after fleeing from police twice
CHARLEVOIX — A Charlevoix man was arrested on Saturday, July 22, and then again the following Thursday, and both instances involved the suspect fleeing from police.
According to the Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office, William Conklin, 33, of Charlevoix was arrested downtown after a high speed car chase on the last night of the Venetian Festival on July 22.
Just before 2 a.m. on July 22, Charlevoix County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Frazee was on patrol when he saw a gray Infiniti SUV traveling south on U.S. 31 within city limits, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
The SUV was traveling at a high rate of speed and driving down the center of the roadway. When Frazee pulled out onto U.S. 31 behind the SUV and attempted to catch up to the vehicle, the driver quickly accelerated away.
Deputy Frazee activated his lights and sirens and a chase ensued through the north downtown Charlevoix neighborhood area. The SUV ran several stop signs, reaching speeds up to 80 mph on Burns and Division streets where speed limits are 35 mph or less.
According to the affidavit, at one point the SUV went airborne and the driver nearly lost control as he "blew through the stop sign at Division Street."
Eventually, the SUV was unable to stop at an intersection on Mercer Boulevard, where he drove straight into the lawn at 9566 Pleasant St. He ran over a street sign and a satellite dish in the process.
Frazee exited his patrol vehicle as the driver, identified as William Conklin, was getting out of his SUV. Conklin refused to put his hands behind his back and Frazee had to "take him to the ground" to handcuff him, according to the affidavit.
Conklin had a PBT (preliminary breath test) blood alcohol content level of .269%. The Michigan legal limit is .08%.
During the arrest, a bag of a "white crystal-like substance" was also found in Conklin's front pocket. Conklin said he was doing controlled buys undercover in cooperation with law enforcement, according to the affidavit.
At the Charlevoix County Jail, the affidavit noted that "Conklin's behavior became increasingly aggressive and uncooperative." Conklin allegedly made "baseless threats to harm Deputy Frazee's career" and then he "bashed his head against the patrol vehicle's window, causing a gash to his forehead." Conklin was transported to Munson Charlevoix Hospital for his self-inflicted wound.
Conklin was charged with eight offenses for the July 22 arrest, including felony possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine with a maximum sentence up to 20 years in prison, a felony charge for fleeing a police officer, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and assaulting or resisting a police officer.
He was released on a $45,000 bond.
However, he was arrested again on Thursday, July 27 for failure to comply with the bond orders.
In the second incident, Conklin was chased on foot by officers and apprehended in front of the farmers market in downtown Charlevoix. According to a statement from the Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office, the chase was initiated when deputies went to arrest Conklin for his felony warrant and he fled on foot.
Records indicate that Conklin has at least three prior felonies.
As of publication, he remains in the Charlevoix County Jail awaiting a hearing on Aug. 8. His pre-trail court date is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 22.
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Conklin is the biological brother of the wife of Charlevoix County Prosecuting Attorney Kit Tholen. In response to the situation, Tholen commended the work of the officers involved and said he has filed a petition with the Michigan Attorney General to assign a different prosecutor to handle the case.
According to Tholen's statement, he does "not have any affinity for (Conklin) or any loyalty to him whatsoever."
"As I expect anyone would be, I am completely outraged at his horrible behavior and fully believe that he is richly deserving of a serious consequence and lengthy prison incarceration," said Tholen.
Tholen added that, "He has been charged to the fullest extent of the law and I want to assure the public that he is absolutely not receiving any special treatment."
"If any Charlevoix County resident wants to speak with me personally to be assured that he is not receiving any special treatment, or to be assured of my integrity, or to be assured of my office’s transparency, I ask that you please call me. I will speak with you or call you back."
— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231)675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com. Follow her on Twitter, @adoylenews
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix man arrested after fleeing from police twice
