An Ortonville man who sped through the streets of the village as a deputy pursued him is now facing up to five years in prison.
Mark Daniel Banfield, 45, was arraigned Feb. 3 in front of 52-2 District Court Magistrate Thomas Raguso on charges of fleeing and eluding a police officer and operating while intoxicated.
According to police reports, at about 12:40 a.m. on Feb. 2, a Brandon deputy was southbound on Ortonville Road, south of Wolfe Road when he saw a vehicle traveling north at a high rate of speed. The deputy clocked the vehicle doing 67 mph in a 50 mph zone and activated his emergency lights. He turned around and attempted to catch up to the vehicle, which appeared to be accelerating. The vehicle, driven by Banfield, turned on Narrin Street, ran the stop sign at Mill Street and proceeded north on Narrin, passing Myron and then turning east on Ball Street. Banfield finally stopped 100 feet east of Narrin on Ball.
The deputy ordered Banfield out of the vehicle and searched him. Banfield told the deputy he was on his way home from the bar and had drank 60 ounces of beer.
He smelled strongly of intoxicants and a preliminary breathalyzer test had results of .101 percent blood alcohol content.
Fleeing and eluding a police officer is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or $1,000.
Operating while intoxicated is a misdemeanor punishable by 93 days in jail and/or $100-$500 or 360 hours of community service.
Banfield is currently on probation for a criminal sexual conduct fourth degree conviction from last year.