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IRON MOUNTAIN -- An Iron Mountain man arrested after a brief chase in Breitung Township on June 28 pleaded not guilty Monday in Dickinson County Circuit Court.
Ernest Wickman Jr., 53, is charged with operating while intoxicated, third offense, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison; fleeing from a police officer, fourth degree, a two-year felony; and assaulting, resisting, or obstructing a police officer, a two-year felony.
Wickman also is charged with operating with a license suspended, revoked or denied, a 93-day misdemeanor.
As a three-time habitual offender, Wickman could receive double the maximum penalty if convicted.
Wickman waived arraignment, so was not required to appear in court. The pleas were entered on his behalf by Dickinson County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Ninomiya.
According to the criminal complaint, a deputy with the Dickinson County Sheriff's Office witnessed Wickman speeding on U.S. 2 in Breitung Township. Wickman reportedly refused to stop when the deputy signaled and instead drove into a parking lot at a high rate of speed, nearly striking another vehicle. Wickman then drove into a warehouse and abandoned his vehicle in an attempt to flee on foot.
Wickman eventually was caught, the complaint states, and admitted to consuming alcohol. He reportedly had slurred speech, bloodshot and watery eyes and smelled of intoxicants. He performed poorly on four field sobriety tests and his preliminary breath test, administered about two hours after the incident began, registered at .073 percent blood-alcohol content, according to the complaint.
A pre-trial conference is set for Sept. 9. Bond is continued at $5,000 cash or surety.