An unplanned swim in Lake Orion could have been deadly for Leslie Stone, 34. But instead, the Lake Orion resident is currently in Oakland County Jail, charged with two felonies.
A Lake Orion police officer made a routine traffic stop on Stone on May 5 near the Moon Gate restaurant on South Broadway.
According to police reports, Stone seemed nervous but compliant when the officer approached the vehicle. Stone didn’t have his driver’s license and told the officer he had left it at home.
While the officer made a LEIN check on Stone, Stone got out of the vehicle and ran towards the lake, ignoring requests by the officer to stop. He jumped into the lake and headed toward deeper water past Andrew’s point.
LO Police Chief Jerry Narsh estimated the water temperature was about 45 degrees.
Numerous attempts were made to get Stone back to shore, but he ignored the officer.
‘The officer determined Stone was going to be in trouble so he contacted an off-duty officer who responded in his boat,? Narsh said.
‘When the officer approach Stone, he was begging for help. Stone, in his attempt to escape, suddenly realized we could also be his savior.?
Stone, suffering from exhaustion and lack of feeling in his feet, was transported to a local hospital.
At an exam on May 15, Stone was bound over for trial in circuit court with a $10,000 cash bond. He was arraigned in circuit court on May 28.
He has been charged with possession of a controlled substance and obstructing police.