ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A newly released 911 call is shedding light on an alcohol-involved crash by St. Joseph County’s prosecutor.
40-year-old John McDonough was arrested around 7 p.m. on May 11th after crashing his vehicle into a residential fence on the 17000 block of Lovers Lane in Lockport Township.
He was later arrested and taken to the St. Joseph County Jail after officers arrived for operating while under the influence of alcohol and having open intoxicants in his vehicle.
WWMT obtained a 911 call McDonough made to dispatchers that night, appearing to show him claiming the crash was caused by a coughing fit.
“Hey this is John McDonough, I had a coughing fit and went off of Lovers Lane and ran over a fence,” he said. McDonough did not suffer any injuries during the crash but called dispatchers again right after to request a tow truck for his damaged vehicle.
When a dispatcher said that a police patrol car was en route, the prosecutor agreed that he would wait at the scene.
A nearby neighbor told the media outlet that he appeared visibly intoxicated when deputies arrived to the crash site and that they could be seen pouring out liquid from an open container that was in the car.
McDonough was taken to the Cass County Jail to be processed for charges and was later released after posting bond. He is currently scheduled to be arraigned in St. Joseph County court on May 21st.
The prosecutor has held office in St. Joseph County for nearly 12 years, having first been elected to the role in 2008.
