Drunk Driving “Hero” Applies for The Blue Discount

By now, everyone on the Internets has obviously seen the infamous viral video of Lt. Brian Filipiak from the Washtenaw County (MI) Sheriff’s Office being stopped for driving drunk. (If you somehow haven’t, the shortened video that was initially released is embedded below, along with the full, unedited 24 minute video)

Throughout that video, Lt. Filipiak acts indignant that another “hero” would actually enforce the law against a fellow “hero.” He asks Montmorency County Sheriff’s deputies who stopped him to “just let me go.” Filipiak even states at one point, when questioned about how he would handle such a situation in his own county, that he would in fact let another “hero” go if he caught them driving drunk.

The sense of entitlement and protection he expects to receive from a fellow “hero” is rather obvious from the start of the video when he purposely flashes his badge as he opens his wallet to retrieve his ID. Unfortunately for him, that little “secret handshake” didn’t work this time. Not surprisingly though, it turns out that there is a reason he had such expectations. Filipiak actually has a history of alcohol involved incidents, going back to at least 2013.

There is a record of law enforcement officers responding to his drunken escapades on at least two occasions, including one in which he was argumentative and, at least initially, refused to follow orders not to drive while drunk. In spite of that, not only was Filipiak apparently not disciplined in any way, but obviously he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, which brings with it a leadership role within the WCSO.

Below are the descriptions of those two incidents, including excerpts from the police reports filed regarding them. (Courtesy of WashtenawWatchdogs.com.) In addition, video of the drunken domestic dispute call involving Filipiak’s wife (mostly audio) is embedded below.

July 2013 Drunken Airport Incident (emphasis added):

On July 21, 2013, Sheriff Department’s Lieutenant Brian Filipiak drove to the Wayne County Airport to pick up his daughter but was so drunk and belligerent that his daughter refused to get into the car with him and hid in a back room of the United Airlines baggage claim office. The United Airlines employees called the Wayne Metro Airport Police to assist [1] .

• On 7/21/13 at approximately 0030 hours, I was dispatched to the United Airlines baqqaqe service office in the North Terminal to assist a female juvenile [daughter] who was afraid to go with her father (reported by Connie Boudourakis from United). Upon arrival, I located [daughter] in the back room of the United office. She was crying and was visibly shaken. [daughter] explained that she had just flown back from her mother’s house out of state and was supposed to get a ride home with her father (B. Filipiak). [daughter] stated that when she met her father in baggage claim, he was acting strangely and appeared intoxicated. She stated that she was afraid to go home with him and was on the phone with her stepmother to arrange a ride home. She stepped out of the back office briefly and pointed out her father standing on the opposite side of luggage claim near carousel 5.

Lieutenant Filipiak was drunk and uncooperative with the responding police officer. He refused to provide ID and stated “You won’t arrest me” and “You don’t know who I am, do you.”

• I made contact with the father (B. Filipiak) near carousel 5. I explained the reason for speaking with him and that his daughter was concerned about going home with him. It became immediately apparent that B. Filipiak was intoxicated. There was an odor of intoxicants coming from his breath and his eyes appeared red and glossy. I asked how he got to the airport and he stated that he drove. I advised B. Filipiak to make some phone calls to arrange to have he and his daughter picked up. I requested his ID and he repeatedly refused to provide it. I explained that he was required to provide ID at my request or face arrest. B. Filipiak stated, “You won’t arrest me,” and “You don’t know who I am, do you?” At this time, I requested another officer to my location. Cpl. Kuty and Lt. Tavtigian arrived to assist. Cpl. Kuty and I again explained that he needed to provide ID and he finally complied. B. Filipiak handed me his Michigan operator’s license and a [Washtenaw County] Sheriff’s Office ID. I directed him to use his phone to try to acquire transportation to his home. At this time, I turned control of the scene over to Lt. Tavtigian.
• I was advised B Filipiak admitted to having identification on him; however he was refused to provide any identification to Ofc Zahina for his investigation. Eventually, B Filipiak provided Ofc Zahina with his Michigan driver license and his Sheriffs Identification card. I asked B Filipiak for the name of his commanding officer and their telephone number. He stated he was not going to give it me. I repeated my question and he ignored me. I conducted a pat-down search for weapons with negative results. I could smell the odor of intoxicants from his person. I asked him if he has been drinking, he stated yes. I asked him how much, he stated a few beers. Also, he admitted of driving to the airport and he parked his vehicle in the blue deck. Ofc Zahina instructed him to call somebody to drive him home because he will not be allowed to drive home in his current condition.

Lt. Filipiak’s daughter called her stepmother and arranged for her to come to the airport and pick her up but she refused to pick up her husband.

• Ofc Zahina advised me that his daughter told him that she was afraid of him and he had been drinking. She wanted nothing to do with her father, B Filipiak. No threats of harm and/or acts of assaults had occurred to her. He then spoke with B Filipiak’s wife [Jamie Sue Filipiak] on the telephone. She stated to him that she was coming to the airport to pick up [daughter]  however she wanted nothing to do with him. Ofc Kuty and I stood by with B Filipiak while Ofc Zahina united [daughter] with her step-mother.

Lt. Filipiak was still uncooperative with regard to arranging for a ride home from the airport.

• While we were waiting, I told B. Filipiak multiple times to call somebody to drive him home. Ofc Zahina returned and advised B Filipiak that his daughter was picked up by his wife and they have left the airport. He was free to leave, however he could not drive his car or he will be arrested. I asked B. Filipiak if he had a credit card for a taxi or if there is somebody we could contact for him. He stated he did have a credit card on him and told me not to worry about it. I spoke with Lt Walls and advised him of the situation. I told B. Filipiak that he needed to get a ride home, however he refused any cooperation and assistance from me and walked away towards the parking deck. I conducted a search of the parking deck with negative results.

Officer Zahina briefly parked his patrol vehicle outside the parking structure to discourage Lt. Filipiak from driving home.

November 2013 Drunken Domestic Dispute (Video embedded below)

In another incident that occurred on November 1, 2013, the Pinckney Police were called to Brian Filipiak’s home for a civil dispute with his wife. According to Lt. Filipiak’s statement [2] ;

• Upon arrival R/O [Watson] met with [Brian] Filipiak who advised that he and his wife [Jamie Sue Filipiak] were having marital problems and had been arguing. [Brain Filipiak] stated that the incident was verbal only and he is not sure why [Jamie Sue] called 911. [Brian] stated that he had been drinking and just wanted to go to bed.

According to his wife’s statement;

• RIO [Watson] met with [Jamie Sue] Filipiak who advised that [Brian Filipiak] has a drinking problem and had been drinking before he arrived home. [Jamie Sue] further stated that they got into an argument but the incident had not gotten physical and she did not believe that it would.

The couple agreed to separate for the night and no further disturbance was reported to police.

Original arrest story via ClickOnDetroit.com:

Washtenaw County Lt. Brian Filipak (sic) is on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues.

Video shows Filipak repeatedly asking to just be let go, but the Montmorency deputies weren’t having it (surprising usually they follow the rules of the thin blue line) and at one point, told him they would use a stun gun on him if he didn’t knock it off. The fact that they would use a taser on him when he wasn’t fighting but rather arguing shows how aggressive cops can be.

“Brian, I’m going to have you step out of the car and do some field sobriety tests,” an officer said.

Filipak was pulled over after deputies said they saw his car weave all over the road.

“Just let me stay here,” Filipak said.

He pleaded with the deputies to let him sleep it off on the side of the road, repeatedly refusing to budge from his truck.

The deputy told him he had to get out of the truck now, but Filipak continued to refuse the orders and forced the deputies to pull him from his pickup truck.