Scottville mayor to be arraigned this afternoon

SCOTTVILLE — Mayor Joe Baxter is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

On the morning of Oct. 18 Baxter drove his truck into the ravine past the end of East Second Street. Scottville Police Dept. was the first law enforcement to arrive on the scene but Chief Mark Barnett turned the case over to Michigan State Police because of the potential conflict of interest with a city official. Because the accident was a personal injury accident, the priority of emergency responders was to extricate Baxter from the scene and transport him by ambulance to Memorial Medical Center.

According to Michigan State Police records, Baxter’s blood alcohol level was recorded at .08 following a blood draw performed at Memorial Medical Center over two hours after the accident. Baxter’s arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Because Baxter has not been arrested, the arraignment will take place in the office of Magistrate Patricia Baker.

Prosecutor Paul Spaniola is expected to release a statement following the arraignment.