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Henrico man arrested for DWI: ‘This is why Baltimore happened’

Posted at 1:14 PM, May 23, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-24 09:56:29-04

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. – A Highland Springs man is in trouble with police after driving drunk and telling the arresting officer “This is why Baltimore happened.”

63-year-old Michael Donaldson of Highland Springs was pulled over early Saturday morning after an officer observed via radar Donaldson speeding on I-64 near Nine Mile Road, according to Henrico Police Lt. Mark Banks.

Banks said that Donaldson failed a field sobriety test and that Donaldson refused to take a breath test to measure the amount of alcohol in his system.

At some point during the arrest Donaldson allegedly called the officer a racist and said that “This is why Baltimore happened,” referring to Freddie Gray, the Baltimore man who was arrested by police then place in a transport vehicle. Gray was subsequently found unconscious in the vehicle and died days after.

Donaldson has been charged with DWI second within five to ten years and Refusal to take Breath Test second offense.