A probationary on-call firefighter with the Independence Township Fire Department was released after allegedly fleeing from police after a traffic stop in Independence Township.
Nicholas Brian Streby, 23, of Clarkston was arraigned on a charge of assaulting/resisting/obstructing/ causing injury to a police officer in 52-2 District Court on April 14 before Magistrate O’Brien.
According to Lieutenant Dale LaBair of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, the offense is a felony punishable by four years in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.
Streby was pulled over on W. Church Street after tailgating another vehicle on Main Street and then driving through an alley to avoid a traffic signal, explained LaBair.
As reported in the April 12 edition of The Clarkston News, a suspect (Streby) fled on foot when the police officer went to retrieve a P.B.T. from his vehicle on April 7 around 3 a.m. The officer pursuing him suffered a knee injury requiring three stitches after falling during the chase.
Following Streby’s implication in the incident he was terminated from the Independence Township Fire Department.
‘We got rid of him that day. Chief Ronk does not tolerate that behavior in this organization,? said Assistant Fire Chief Bob Elizondo. ‘People put a lot of trust in us here and we have to maintain a certain professionalism with high morals and integrity. We don’t settle for anything else.?
Elizondo said Streby was one of 15 people recruited at the end of 2005 and was hired into the department as a probationary on-call on January 5.
‘He wasn’t in the door yet, he was working his way through. We have a rigorous process,? said Elizondo, noting Streby had passed his physical, background check and EMT training. Streby had not finished his Firefighting I and II training yet.
Streby had a previous driving while impaired charge in 2004 out of 52-3 District Court, confirmed LaBair.
Acknowledging Streby’s prior offense, Elizondo said Streby, specifically, was advised he must not commit another similar offense if he expected to continue in the program.
‘We wanted to give these kids in the community a chance. They make mistakes when they are young and we hope we can be part of the maturing process to make them good citizens,? said Elizondo. ‘He was in the preliminary stages of being an on-call in our system.?
While an arrest warrant was filed for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and obstructing a police officer, Streby was charged with only the second offense.
‘To make an adequate drunk driving case, we did not have the long-driving history (in this incident) that is normal in a drunk-driving case,? said LaBair.
According to LaBair, a usual drunk-driving case would most likely have included some weaving or swerving and other signs the driver was impaired prior to the traffic stop. Streby’s fleeing also prevented any P.B.T. or blood test from being conducted.
Streby is scheduled to appear April 24 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Dana Fortinberry.