Suspected intoxicated driver strikes Cass County patrol vehicle

Published 9:24 am Wednesday, November 21, 2018

WAYNE TOWNSHIP — Two Dowagiac men were arrested Saturday following a series of events that occurred on M-51 near Van Buren Street, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies stopped a vehicle driven by Patrick McMeeken, 31, of Dowagiac, for speeding. The department’s Wayne Township deputies made contact with the driver and determined the vehicle was stolen out of Hartford. McMeeken was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of meth and a felon in possession of a firearm.

During this investigation, a Cass County deputy was standing next to his patrol vehicle with the driver’s door open when an unrelated vehicle failed to move over for the emergency vehicle. This vehicle struck the driver’s door of the patrol vehicle with its mirror. Sheriff’s deputies say the vehicle missed the sheriff’s deputy by inches.

Pokagon Tribal Police were assisting with the original arrest, and were able to pursue the vehicle and conduct a traffic stop.

That driver, Spencer Mourning, 47, of Dowagiac, was arrested for suspicion of operating under the influence, possession of marijuana and leaving the scene of an accident.

Both individuals were lodged at the Cass County Jail.

Sheriff Behnke reminds all motorists that the law requires all vehicles to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles.