A season of historic holiday festivities took a wrong turn sometime last week when an unknown driver smashed into the large wall encircling the Scripps Estate, collapsing a ten-foot section of it, according to police reports.
The vehicle appeared to have been travelling westbound on Scripps Road near the eastern edge of the property when it went off the road and struck the wall, the report said.
And since no one has turned themselves in, it appears the driver continued down the bumpy, unpaved road.
Leslie Pielack, curator and executive director at the estate, said the damage was only recently discovered by a groundskeeper after much of the snow received in the past month melted.
‘He noticed there was a large hole in the fence,? Pielack said.
The estate holds many private parties and public tours throughout the holiday season, according to Pielack, who said that it could have occurred anytime between Dec. 23-30. The road where the wall was hit is especially tricky, according to Pielack.
‘A lot of cars end up in ditches on that curve,? she said.
This vehicle wasn’t so lucky, and instead bore a large hole in the fence, sending cobblestones laid down almost a century ago flying.
to local police departments in any successful arrest and prosecution,? Narsh said. ‘Without the blood results and analysis, we could not have moved forward.?
When the blood results came in, police were able to obtain arrest warrants for both incidents from the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
They then caught up with Hall in Pontiac, who was immediately arraigned before Magistrate Clem Waldmann at the 52/3 District Court.
For the July 6 incident, Hall will be charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance, less than 25 grams, a felony that carries four years and/or $25,000. The bond for that charge is set at $5,000 or ten percent.
Hall was charged with that same count for crashing the vehicle into the tree on July 27, as well as two others: operating a vehicle with a suspended license, second offense, a misdemeanor that carries one year and/or $1,000; and operating a vehicle with the presence of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor that carries 93 days in jail and/or a $100-$300 fine.
Hall remains in the Oakland County Jail.
‘This case once again shows the power and the danger of heroin and other drugs to the safety and security of society,? Narsh said. ‘Lake Orion police officers are continuing their investigations and arrests on anyone who uses or possesses this potent and life-threatening drug.?