A man in Three Rivers, Jeremy Tomlinson, has been arrested for his 10th DUI charge after running out of gas on Wednesday night. The incident occurred on Airview Drive, south of U.S. 12, where Tomlinson pulled into a driveway and passed out in the front seat of his car. A concerned Joann Bassage alerted authorities by calling 911 and her son, Gordon Bassage.
When troopers arrived at the scene, they found Tomlinson unsteady on his feet and unable to answer basic questions. According to Trooper Kaitlyn Bielecki, there was a strong smell of alcohol in the air, and Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement trooper Brandon Oaks noted that Tomlinson exhibited major signs of impairment. A breath test revealed his blood alcohol concentration was .21, nearly three times the legal limit. An open can of beer was found in the car console.
In addition to the DUI charge, Tomlinson was charged with violating his parole. According to state records, Tomlinson’s driver’s license had been revoked, and he was on parole after his ninth conviction for operating under the influence in December 2019. He had served two years of a 1.5-5-year prison term and was only 45 days away from discharge from parole when he was arrested.
Tomlinson’s criminal record for drunk driving dates back 22 years, with all but one of his convictions taking place in St. Joseph County. He has served five prison terms for DUI-related charges, with his eighth conviction resulting in an 18-month to 10-year prison sentence in February 2017.
Reflecting on the incident, Tomlinson stated that he had run out of gas, explaining his presence in the driveway. As of now, bond has been set at $10,000, but the Michigan Department of Correction is expected to place a hold on him for violating parole.
