Chesterfield Township Man Charged in Fatal Crash of New Baltimore Police Officer

A 64-year-old Chesterfield Township man was charged Wednesday with felonies relating to the Sunday night accident that killed a New Baltimore police reserve officer and military veteran. 

Gerald Belcher was arrested at his home Wednesday afternoon after the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office authorized a warrant on one count of driving with a suspended license causing death and one count of operating while intoxicated. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment, according to Chesterfield Township police.

Belcher was held in lieu of a $250,000 cash bond at Macomb County Jail in Mount Clemens. His preliminary exam is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 13 in the New Baltimore court. 

Police said Belcher's Chevy Impala struck 33-year-old Patrick Wisniewski's motorcycle at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sunday at the Jefferson and 21 Mile intersection. Wisniewski was a New Baltimore police reserve officer and United States Air Force Active Guard Reserve 127th Security Forces Squadron veteran at the Selfridge ANG Base. He was a married father of five who served deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He was on his way home from a regular shift at Selfridge at the time of crash. The U.S. flag was flown half-staff Monday in his honor at Selfridge.

Memorial services are scheduled this week in New Baltimore and at the base in Harrison Township. 

Visitation is 2- 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. Rosary, Friday, June 7 at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, DFAC, Dining Facility, Building #164. Instate  is 9:30 a.m. until a 10 a.m. Liturgy, Saturday, June 8 at St. Mary Queen of Creation Church, 50931 Maria, New Baltimore, according to Gendernalik Funeral Home in New Baltimore.

Donations may be made to Michigan's Thin Blue Line at any PNC Bank branch or at the New Baltimore Police Department or sent to Thin Blue Line at P.O. Box 415, Howell, MI 48844. They should be marked; ATTN: TBL/FBO Wisniewski Family.