Coppo

TRAVERSE CITY — Houghton County Undersheriff Kevin Coppo had about three times the legal blood-alcohol level when he was arrested for driving while intoxicated, police records show.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office released the report through the Freedom of Information Act (to the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette) Thursday.

On March 3, Grand Traverse deputies responded to the Great Wolf Lodge parking lot about 1:53 a.m. after the report of a silver truck hitting an SUV in the parking lot.

Security manager Cory Lorenzen, whose window overlooks the parking lot, reported seeing Coppo reverse into the SUV at high speed before parking. He was driving “erratically,” Lorenzen said.

Lorenzen said there had been a banquet for first responders held that night.

Deputies ran the plates of the Chevy Silverado and found it was owned by Houghton County. About a half-hour later, Deputy Mitchell Hoffman and another deputy went to the hotel room identified by Lorenzen, where they found Coppo.

Hoffman described Coppo as “highly intoxicated,” reporting watery eyes and very slurred speech. Coppo said he had driven back from a downtown Traverse City bar called the Double Wide, but had only had “a couple of drinks there.”

Coppo showed the deputies three White Claw cans, which were mostly empty. Coppo refused a breathalyzer test at the scene; he was then taken into custody. After being arrested and advised on his Miranda rights, Coppo estimated he had 12 drinks after returning while going from room to room.

In a supplemental report, Deputy Weber reported seeing several crushed beer cans in the back pouch of the Silverado’s front passenger seat.

Breath samples taken at the jail at 3:38 and 3:41 a.m. registered a 0.23 and 0.24, about three times the state’s 0.08 limit.

Coppo has taken a leave of absence during the investigation. Sgt. Jon Giachino was sworn in as temporary undersheriff Monday, Sheriff Joshua Saaranen said at Tuesday’s county board meeting.

Coppo is scheduled to be arraigned in 86th District Court March 29 for operating while intoxicated — BAC of 0.17 or more and for failure to stop after a collision. He was also cited for refusing a breathalyzer test.

At Tuesday’s Houghton County Board meeting, Commissioner Glenn Anderson strongly criticized Coppo’s conduct.

“He let the county down, especially for a person at his career level and maturity … it would’ve been bad no matter what, but at least if it was a rookie officer who did a stupid thing maybe I’d be a little more forgetful.”

Vice Chair Tom Tikkanen complimented Saaranen for being transparent with the public after Coppo’s arrest.

“Going forward, that’s my goal, is to not only be transparent, but to make sure we are accountable,” Saaranen said.