Posted on 12/18/2001 12:25:42 PM PST by carenot
Michael Duane Whitfield, 23, of Kalamazoo was charged Monday with two counts of committing a grossly negligent act causing a miscarriage or stillbirth, a felony that carries a penalty of 15 years or a $7,500 fine or both for each count.
Whitfield already faces several felony charges for allegedly causing an accident that critically injured a pregnant mother and apparently killed her unborn twins.
The charges include fleeing and eluding police causing serious injury, carrying a concealed weapon in an automobile, being a felon in possession of a firearm, committing a felony with a firearm and failing to stop at a serious personal-injury accident. He faces 10 years or more in prison if convicted of those felonies. If convicted of the additional charges filed against him Monday, further prison time could be imposed.
At the intersection of Bridge Street and Gull Road on Dec. 6, the 2000 Mercury Sable Whitfield was driving allegedly rammed the car in which the expectant mother, Lenora Cole, was riding. The collision followed a 12-second police chase and apparently killed Cole's unborn twins, who were to be delivered this month.
Cole, 26, was listed in critical condition this morning at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Cole's mother, Rondia Cole, who was driving the car, and passengers Norma Hazen, 30, and Cornelius Cole, 11, also were injured.Rondia Cole is expected to be released today from Borgess Medical Center.
No charges have been filed against the three passengers in the car Whitfield was driving, but Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Dan Weston said they and Whitfield are the main suspects in the armed robbery of a Fazoli's restaurant that night.
A preliminary hearing for Whitfield has been scheduled for Wednesday.
Monday afternoon, Lenora Cole's seven other children were treated to a "Christmas Wish List," complete with the holiday toys they most desired, compliments of WRKR-FM radio's Mike McKelly.
Nick Schirripa can be reached at 388-8552 or nschirripa@kalamazoogazette.com.
First they said he was drunk. Then they decided he wasn't drunk.
One of his 3 passengers escaped. They took the driver and the 2 passengers to jail, but released the 2 passengers next day. No mention, that I can find of the one that ran away.
They said he was in a stolen car. Now they don't mention it.
What is going on?
"This is more on the article I posted last week..."
# 1 by carenot
************************
Here's your old thread, carenot.
He should be charged with homicide. The weapon, a car, the crime, the murder of two little children trapped in the womb. But, I forgot, we can't call them babies or children, we have to call them "unborn". Forgive my unpolitical correctness.
Alas
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.