State Rep. John Kivela (state photo)
Rep. John Kivela
Update, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday: State Rep. John Kivela, 47, a Democrat from Marquette, was found dead Tuesday from an apparent suicide in his Lansing home hours after he was released on a charge of driving "super drunk," the Detroit Free Press reports.
He had been arrested for drunk driving Monday afternoon in Clinton County, outside of Lansing. He previously was arrested for driving under the influence in 2015 and got probation.
A Lansing police crime scene investigation unit was outside his Chestnut Street home in Lansing.
"This is probably the toughest day that we’ll experience this term," says a tearful Speaker of the House Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt. "I truly have no words about the loss of our dear friend John Kivela .As we go forward over the next couple of days, please keep his wife Sandy and his children in your prayers."
Original post, Tuesday morning:
One drawback of being a lawmaker is that you make news when you get busted for drunk driving.
State Rep. John Kivela, a Democrat from Marquette, is charged with driving “super drunk” with a blood alcohol level of at least .17 -- more than twice the legal limit -- when pulled over by deputies in Clinton County, near Lansing on Monday afternoon, WWJ reports. The “super drunk” status can bring steeper penalties.
In 2015, he pleaded guilty to a DUI charge in Clinton County and got probation. He has announced he plans to run for state Senate next year.
