By Mark Constance
HIGGINS LAKE – A Jackson man was arraigned on multiple charges after he drove through the wall of the Cut River Grille July 19.
According to Gerrish Township Police Chief Eric Muszyinksi, Andrew Charles Avery, 43, was charged with:
Count 1:
Misdemeanor charge of Operating While Intoxicated (OWI). A third offense notice was added to this charge which enhances it to a felony.
Count 2:
Assaulting, resisting, obstruction police officer causing injury
Four year felony
Count 3
Police officer, assaulting, resisting, obstructing.
Two year felony.
Avery was issued a fourth offense Habitual Offender notice because he has three or more past felony convictions.
Chief Muszyinski said one of the Gerrish Township officers suffered minor injuries during the incident.
Bond was set at 100,000 or 10 percent cash / surety.
A probable cause conference is set for Aug. 4 at 1 p.m.
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HIGGINS LAKE – A vehicle crashed into the north side of Cut River Grille late Saturday night, causing significant structural damage to the building.
The restaurant sits on the banks of the Cut River, which runs between Higgins Lake and Houghton Lake. It was originally built as a canoe livery sometime in the 1930s.
His team posted a message earlier saying:
According to the Gerrish Township Police Department and Gerrish Township Fire Department, the incident occurred around 11 p.m. when a GMC Suburban, driven by an unidentified 43-year-old man, left the roadway and drove through the structure.
At the time of the crash, six to seven employees had just finished closing duties in the dining area. Fortunately, they exited moments before the vehicle entered. No injuries were reported.
The SUV was reportedly traveling eastbound when it left the road and struck the building, smashing through the exterior wall and pushing the air conditioning unit into the building.
According to Gerrish Township Fire Chief Kristi Gilliam, after the vehicle was removed from the building by a tow truck, the structure was stabilized using specialized equipment, including support struts placed in a triangular configuration to support the compromised, load-bearing wall. The struts are the same ones firefighters use to stabilize vehicles in rollover situations.
Gerrish Township Police Chief Eric Muszinski said that when officers arrived on scene, patrons identified the driver, who was sitting on the ground near the business sign. The suspect, who has not yet been named, was reportedly uncooperative and allegedly engaged in a physical altercation with police during the arrest.
Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash. The driver was evaluated by EMS personnel at the scene and taken into custody.
The incident remains under investigation.
Mark Constance can be reached at [email protected]
