Trace Christenson

Battle Creek Enquirer

DRUNKEN-DRIVING DEJA VU: A Battle Creek woman was arrested on charges of driving under the influence twice in six hours Tuesday. Officers reported they arrested the 45-year-old woman at 4:05 a.m. in the 300 block of Capital Avenue Southwest after the van she was driving nearly hit a patrol car. The woman said she was taking medication for a medical condition and had some wine earlier in the evening. She told officers she was studying to be an attorney and she refused to take a preliminary breath test because "that is what they taught us in lawyer school." She was taken to Bronson Battle Creek for a blood draw after a search warrant was approved. She was then taken to the Calhoun County jail. At 10:20 a.m. officers were called to North LaVista Boulevard and West Burnham Avenue and found the woman behind the wheel of the same vehicle blocking traffic and hunched over the wheel as though asleep. The first officer turned off the van. She told officers she thought she was on Kendall Street in a driveway of a residence. Police said they found a partially empty pint of liquor and a crack pipe in the vehicle. She again told officers she would not consent to a blood draw. After officers obtained another search warrant she was taken to the hospital but was fighting, kicking and screaming at police and hospital personnel until she was finally restrained. She was taken again to the county jail. Sheriff Matt Saxton said the woman had been taken to jail on a charge of driving under the influence of liquor about 5:30 a.m. Jail staff gave her a breath test at 7:30 a.m. and it read zero; she then was released on bond. Saxton said staff may have released her about 90 minutes early but she would have been released by 9 a.m. because a warrant request was denied and she showed no signs of intoxication. When she was returned to jail the second time she was held on a charge of driving under the influence of drugs until her court arraignment Wednesday afternoon. Saxton said staff who approved her early release will be subject to an internal review and possible discipline.

FISHING FOR MONEY: A 19-year-old Battle Creek man was arrested and a man and woman are being sought for a series of thefts from coin machines in both Battle Creek and Springfield. About 1 p.m. Monday, Battle Creek police were called to a car wash at 131 Grove St., where the manager said coin machines had been emptied twice at the car wash over about four days for a total loss of $450. Police said the thieves were able to insert a bill into the machines, triggering it to give change, and then retract the bill. Calhoun County Sheriff Department deputies said two car washes in Springfield also were hit. Deputies said not only was money taken but the change machines sustained about $250 in damage.

HEARING WAIVED IN BABICK CASE: A man charged in connection with his Valentine's Day death of his girlfriend has waived his preliminary examination. Deangelo Gaines, 25, is charged with careless discharge of a firearm causing death. He was charged following the death of Kayla Babick, 24, in their home on Highway Street. Battle Creek police said the woman laid down on a handgun that was on the bed and when she reached behind to move it, the gun fired, killing her. Gaines was scheduled to appear before Calhoun County District Judge Jim Norlander before Gaines waived his right to the hearing. The case will be sent to circuit court for trial. He faces up to two years in prison on the misdemeanor.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: A man was arrested by Battle Creek police after a woman, 54, said she was assaulted in the 800 block of Westover Avenue at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

THEFTS: • Meijer Inc., 2191 W. Columbia Ave.: undisclosed, one arrested.

Call Silent Observer at 964-3888 or text CRIMES (274637) SOTIP or see www.crimereports.com with information about crimes.