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Kalamazoo Co. assistant prosecutor fired after crash; case handed to state AG

Posted at 10:34 PM, Apr 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-02 00:45:21-04

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Paige Timmer was fired Wednesday. Police said she crashed into another vehicle on March 14 after 2 a.m. Authorities believe she was drunk. Timmer and the other driver were seriously hurt.

"Ms. Timmer's employment with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has been terminated," Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said. "I met with her this morning and then informed her of that decision."

Timmer worked for his office for one year, Getting said, and he said he is not at liberty to go into detail about the case. However, FOX 17 obtained a 27-page report from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety through the Freedom of Information Act that details what officers heard and saw that morning.

Officers noted Timmer's eyes were bloodshot, blood covered her face, and she appeared intoxicated and told officers she "messed up." But Timmer's blood alcohol level is redacted from the report.

"The Attorney General's office will either keep the case themselves and make a decision what, if any, charges are going to be brought as a result of this incident," Getting said, "or they will contact the Attorneys Coordinating Council, who will assign the case to another office for that decision."

Getting said he won't have any input on the case.

"You develop relationships with people and friendships, and you don't want to see anything bad happen to someone," Getting said. "That's the heart of this conflict of interest that requires the case to be sent out for someone else to make these decisions."

Regardless, Getting said he believes his office made the right decision in a timely manner.

In a station Timmer previously issued a statement through her attorney Mike Nichols, she said she understands that someone in her position is held to a higher standard. Timmer also said she understands the need for transparency.