Sumpter Officer Salajan sentenced to probation on reduced charge

George Gabriel Salajan, III, age 29, of Sumpter Township, has been sentenced to 24 months of reporting probation after pleading no contest to a reduced charge of driving while visibly impaired.
He originally was charged with operating with a blood alcohol content of .17 or more on Jan. 27 in Huron Township. On April 8, Judge Geno Salomone of 23rd District Court in Taylor, accepted the no contest plea to the reduced charge.
Salajan was then scheduled for an interview by the probation department. The pre-sentence evaluation was delivered to Judge Salomone on May 15 and Salajan was sentenced.
Judge Salomone said Salajan must check in with him personally once a month. He indicated if the first year goes without incident, he would reconsider the monthly check-ins.
Salajan’s defense attorney tried unsuccessfully to get his client non-reporting probation for the 24 months, by presenting a letter from Nancy McCrory at University of Michigan Hospital that contained an evaluation. She noted Salajan followed through with his outpatient treatment there and pursued aftercare.
The attorney said Salajan has been a Sumpter Township Police Officer for six years and he is motivated to continue with his sobriety. He is married and has a three-and-a-half-year-old child.
The attorney pointed out his client was self-motivated.
But Judge Salomone disagreed with non-reporting. He addressed Salajan, “You are young and we want you to get better.” He said if Salajan violates his probation, they will deal with it.
At the April 8 court session, Judge Salomone had asked about Salajan paying restitution for the mailbox he knocked down and Huron Township prosecuting attorney David Loeckner said they would contact the resident.
On May 15, Loeckner said he reached out to the owner of the mailbox and told him about this court date, but the man did not attend the court session.
“They will have a right to restitution,” Judge Salomone said.
Salajan’s attorney said his client posted $500 bond at 34th District Court and he is ready to pay the balance of his fine that day.
There was some discussion on how they would get the $500 from 34th District Court where Salajan was originally charged. His case was sent over to 23rd District Court when all three judges at 34th decided they had conflicts of interest because he was a police officer in their jurisdiction.
“Some way or other we will get it worked out,” Judge Salomone announced.
“You’re not using medical marijuana any more?” Judge Salomone asked Salajan and Salajan replied he wasn’t.
Judge Salomone suggested Salajan talk to his doctor and ask for an alternative for pain medication since the judge isn’t fond of him using marijuana.
“If your doctor says, ‘Here’s what you need to do,’ and tells you to use marijuana, I will not interfere since I am a judge and not a doctor.”
“Have you every tried a non-narcotic pain medication?” Judge Salomone asked Salajan and Salajan replied he hadn’t.
According to the Huron Township Police arrest record obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, Salajan was driving a black 2016 Ford F-150 pickup just before midnight on Saturday, Jan. 26, on Felt Road at Duff Drive when he hit a traffic sign and a mailbox and was in a ditch. The weather was blowing snow. The owner of the mailbox called police.
When police arrived, Salajan was climbing out of the ditch and Reporting Officer A. Sheehan made contact with him and, “Salajan stated that he f—ed up.” Officer Sheehan asked him, “if he had been drinking tonight and he stated too much and that he is f—ed up.” Salajan stated he was not injured.
“I observed a smell of intoxicants coming from Salajan,” Officer Sheehan wrote. “Salajan’s eyes were bloodshot and watery. Salajan was unstable on his feet.”
Salajan was given roadside sobriety tests as he stood in the snow with no shoes on and he completed some better than others, according to the report. He agreed to take a PBT test at 12:19 a.m. with the result of .26. He was put in handcuffs and arrested for driving while intoxicated (operating with blood alcohol content of .17 or more). At the station his breath test was .24 at 12:48 a.m. and .22 at 12:51 a.m.
He was released at noon on Sunday after posting the $5,000/10% ($500) cash bond. His truck had been impounded at J&M and could be released the next day, Monday.
Michigan has enacted an enhanced punishment for drivers who operate a motor vehicle above a .16% blood alcohol content (BAC). An arrest of .17% BAC or higher will likely be charged with “operating while intoxicated with high BAC” which is also known in the legal community as “Super Drunk.”
Driving while impaired in Michigan is generally defined as operating a car, truck, boat, snowmobile, aircraft, train or other motor vehicle when the ability to operate the motor vehicle is negatively affected (or impaired) by alcohol or drugs.
The punishments in Michigan for first-offense “operating while visibly impaired” are listed as: up to 180 days in jail if BAC was .17% or greater, up to 360 hours community service, $100 to $300 fine, possible forfeiture or immobilization of vehicle for up to 180 days, and suspension of driver’s license for 90 days (although a restricted driver’s license may be obtained after 90 days). Also, six points could be added to driving record and $1,000 annual driver responsibility fee for two consecutive years.