you okay? Judge 37 District Court. >> I'm sorry. This is This is not something I want to do. I feel like absolute [ __ ] right now cuz you want to go through a couple tests. >> I have no choice, do I? >> Is anybody injured? >> My bad. On March 25th, 2026, Sterling Heights police officers were dispatched to the intersection of Van Djk and Triangle Drive following reports of a vehicle crashing into a smart bus carrying passengers. Upon arriving on scene, officers made contact with the driver of a Ford Fusion that had rearended the bus. The driver was identified as John Shamura, the chief judge of Michigan's 37th District Court. During their initial contact, officers immediately observed several signs of possible intoxication, including the odor of alcoholic beverages, slurred speech, and difficulty maintaining his balance. Let's take a look at how this incident unfolded and hear Judge Chamora's explanation of what happened. >> Obviously, I opened the back door. He's okay, but both doors aren't open. >> Okay. Um, can you grab your license with you? Was anybody on board? >> Yeah, I got a few people on. Okay. Were they okay? Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Uh, can you grab all the >> There's norally a book and all that kind of stuff. I don't know if that's for you, too. >> I don't know. >> Hi. You okay? What happened? >> I'm sorry. >> You hit the guy in front of you. Yeah, I got you. Where you coming from? >> Um, we had a uh vent back over there. Um, on the judge. >> Okay. Where at? >> 37th District Court. >> 37th District. Okay. >> Do you have your license, registration insurance with you? >> Yeah. Where you coming from? Dus. Okay. Just meeting. Was there like a meeting or something going on? >> Yeah. Okay. I got this. And you just left there. >> Yeah. How much did I get to drink there? Too much. Okay, >> we'll fast forward through this portion of the stop as the driver takes an unusually long time to locate his driver's license and vehicle paperwork. Difficulty locating requested documents can be a sign of impairment and may further raise an officer's suspicions during an OWI investigation. >> So, what were so what was it tonight? Was it uh >> so well fundraiser particular judge running for the circuit court in the county area? >> Was that her fundraiser? Probably drink a little bit too much in here. >> Okay. >> Are you a beer drinker? Wine? Liquor? Um not wine. A little bit of liquor. Okay. What's What's your go-to? What was it tonight? What was your go-to tonight? >> Go to? What do you mean go to? >> Like, what was your drink of choice tonight? >> There was no drink of choice. Just whatever I wanted. >> Okay, I got you. All right, I'm just going to run you through a couple tests. Okay, >> I want to do the test. Okay, look, I can do it. I've been on a bench for 30 years. I understand all of it. Okay. >> Yeah. Make me do the test. >> Listen, unfortunately, in today's day and age, everything's recorded. Everything at all. >> Listen, this is not something that I want to do. Unfortunately, I've had to arrest multiple cops. >> I understand. >> I'm not saying that I'm going to arrest you, right? >> That's not what I'm saying. >> I understand. >> Whenever there's a crash that happens, my hands are tied. >> I understand. >> So, I'm sorry. This is This is not something I want to do. I feel like absolute [ __ ] right now cuz I don't want to be in this position. >> Neither. Neither do I. I understand. >> So, I'm sorry. >> I understand. I understand. >> So, again, I'm going to ask, do you want to go through a couple tests? >> I have no choice, do I? >> You actually do have a choice. I'm not going I'm not going to tell you that you can or can't. I'm just asking. Yes, sir. That's all the information or I'm sorry, the ID. ID. >> Yes, that's his here. >> Yeah. >> So, I'm asking, will you do a couple tests for me? >> Okay. >> We're just going to walk over onto the sidewalk. Okay. Do you have anything wrong with your eyes at all? Do >> I have what? >> Do you have anything wrong with your eyes at all? Gosh. >> Do you have anything wrong with your eyes at all? Do you have resting neck stagnus? >> No. >> Okay. Do you have anything that prevents you from walking or standing on one foot? >> No. >> Well, I need knee replacement in the surgery, but yeah, that's fair. Okay, that's understandable. Fair enough. We're just going to walk over here. Okay. Actually, we'll we'll just stand over here. Stand right here for me. All right. So, I'm just going to So, again, I'm just going to check your eyes. Okay. Can you uh turn to face me here? Perfect. All right. So, I want you to do stand with your feet together for me, please. Arms down at your sides. Arms down at your sides. Hold that position. Okay. What I want you to do is I want you to follow the tip of my finger here with your eyes and your eyes only. Okay? Do not move your head. You understand? All right. Eyes only, please. Okay. My finger. Okay. Bow with your eyes and your eyes only. Okay. >> Oh, looks like you're bleeding there. Do you want to be checked out? Yeah, it looks like Looks like you got a cut on your finger. Do you want to be Do you want that checked out there? >> Looks like you have a cut on your finger. Do you want that checked out? >> No. >> How about this? I'm just going to get the fire department here to just clean that up for you. Okay. >> Cut on my finger. >> Yeah. You have a cut on your finger. >> Yeah. Check out checked out. >> Sure. >> You want to just Maybe they can clean it up for you. >> Yeah. We're just going to have clean it up. You put a bandage on it. >> Yeah. You got some blood coming out of your finger. You know, >> band-aid. Maybe. Band-aid. Band-aid. Let's do a band-aid. and you you didn't black out at all, hit your head. Okay. >> So, it's pretty safe to assume that you're highly intelligent. So, and you know the alphabet. You know how to count. Okay. So, we'll actually here we're just going to have Do you mind just making sure like there's no like laceration or anything of that sort or to clean it up? Thank you. >> All right. So, it's safe to assume that you know the alphabet and you know how to count. >> Yeah. Okay. So, I'm going to ask I'm going to ask you to count from or I'm going to ask you to count backwards from 87 [music] to 78. So, 87 86 and so on. >> Say this again. What? >> Yep. So, I want you to count backwards from 87 to 78. So, 87 86 and so on. 85 84 83 82 81 80 79 78 79 78 76 77 76 75 74 73 72 72 71 7 Now what I want you to do is I want you to recite the alphabet from C to N without singing it. So C D and so on C to N >> C D H C Wait, say it again. Say it. So before you start, just listen to me. Okay? So what I want you to do is I want you to recite the alphabet. So say the alphabet from C to N. So C D and so on. C to N. C. E F G H I N C D E F G H I C D. Say it again. >> Yep. So from C to N. So C and D C D E F G H I N C D E F G H I T C G C H I >> That's okay. >> No, it's not okay. It's not okay. It's not It's bad. It's bad. You want to continue to try? >> No. Okay. All right. So, at the request of a police officer, I'm just going to ask that you take a PBT. Will you take one for me? Will you take one for me? I have to. >> I'm asking that you do. >> You don't. You do not have to. >> I know. >> I just want the choice to be all all yours. >> If I don't, what will happen? >> If you don't, then you will be issued a civil infraction citation with a fine up to $100. >> And what else? And then what happens from there is then I proceed with my investigation. Based off full of everything in in front of me. >> Okay. So no PBT. Okay. Well, at this time I am placing you under arrest property while intoxicating. Okay. Do you have anything? Do you have Do you have any jewelry on? No jewelry on. Yeah, there he goes. You can put your uh palms together kind of like you're playing. There we go. All righty, sir. I'm uh Sergeant King. So, obviously, you know exactly what's going on here, >> and we got to do what we got to do. You know our job, and we're not trying to make this any more uncomfortable or anything like this. But, I'm just going to tell you uh this. We We all make mistakes. We're all human. I know you're well aware of this. The difference is the actions you take right now and how you go along with this. So, you've already refused the PBT, which you can do that. You you know that, but now you you probably know the next step is we're going to redo your chemical test rights to do a uh a chemical analysis. So, again, you know, think about that. Think about how you're going to react to the situation. I mean, you're going to get it verbatim, but you know, he the officer, Officer Jano, is going to get that for you a second. So, just know that that's coming and uh know the penalties that are going to result if you refuse that test as all. Do you understand that? >> Yeah. >> And again, we're going to take consideration of this because you are going to end up at the Mcome County Jail here and we're going to alert them so that you are off to the side, okay? Not to create any conflicts. Again, we don't want to make this any more uncomfortable than it needs to be. But we all have a job to do. I hope you understand that. >> I do. Okay. So, I'm going to we're going to go uh sit you down over here then. Officer Jalo, you're going to read those uh chemical test rights. Sorry. >> Is it okay if I call you John? >> I just want to be respectful. >> After Judge Shura refused to submit to a preliminary breath test, he was still placed under arrest based on the numerous signs of impairment observed by officers throughout the investigation. Following the arrest, the shift sergeant explained the booking process and advised him of the next step in the OI investigation, a chemical test. Unlike a preliminary breath test administered roadside, a chemical test is admissible in court and can be conducted using a person's breath, blood, or urine, depending on the circumstances. In this case, officers requested a blood test. Under Michigan's implied consent law, refusing a lawful chemical test results in an automatic suspension of a driver's license, along with additional penalties, including six points being assessed to the driver's driving record. Let's see what Judge Chamora decides to do. >> So, you understand everything that I've read, I'm going to ask, will you take a blood test? >> If I don't take the blood test, you need you need a warrant. >> Correct. >> I don't want to do that. I'm not going to do that because I've signed those warrants many times myself. I'm not going to do that. So, give me the bullet test >> or the PBT test. Let's let's let's just >> let's just cut to the chase. If I have to take a PBT test, I'll do it now and get over and done with. I don't want to make it hard for other people. Okay. Correct. I've done this many times myself. Believe me. Unfortunately, we are past the PPT phase. Okay. So, again, I'm asking if you'll take a blood test, and I just want to confirm. You said you will. Yes, >> I'll take it. >> Okay. >> After agreeing to submit to a chemical blood test, officers decided to give Judge Shamura another opportunity to take a preliminary breath test. This time, he agreed. >> All right, John, we are going to let you uh uh take the PVT now. Okay. >> So, we won't do the refusal. All right. So, just deep breath. See your lips around it. Keep blowing until uh until I tell you to stop. Okay. >> Yeah. All right. Go ahead. Blow blow blow blow blow blow blow blow blow blow. All right. So, you're 16. All right. So, we're going to uh go get the uh the chemical test uh and then we'll get uh how long until you're uh sober and uh you'll get through this. Okay. Yeah. All right. Thanks, guys. Before transporting Judge Shamura to the hospital for a blood draw, officers remained on scene to speak with the smart bus driver and check on the passengers involved in the crash. Two passengers complained of back pain and were evaluated by medical personnel, but both ultimately declined transportation to the hospital. While the smart bus remained drivable and was able to continue operating, Judge Chamura's vehicle was impounded by police. Once at the hospital, officers placed Judge Schmura in a wheelchair due to concerns about his balance and the possibility of him falling. Medical staff collected two vials of blood which were secured by police and submitted for further analysis. Following the blood draw, Judge Chamura was transported to the Mcome County Jail where he was charged with operating while intoxicated first offense. He was later released once sober pending arraignment. Subsequent blood test results revealed Judge Chamura's blood alcohol concentration was 0.19% significantly above Michigan's legal limit of 0.08% and even higher than his roadside preliminary breath test result of 0.16%. Investigators noted this indicated his blood alcohol level was still rising at the time of the crash. As a result, the charge was later enhanced to operating while intoxicated high BAC, which applies when a driver's blood alcohol concentration is 0.17% or higher. Under Michigan law, the offense carries penalties of up to 180 days in jail and fines of up to $700. Due to Judge Shura's more than 30 years of experience within the Mcome County court system, the case was referred to the prosecuting attorney's coordinating council to ensure impartiality and maintain public confidence in the judicial process. The matter was subsequently reassigned to St. Clair County where prosecutor Michael Wendling was appointed to handle the case. Judge Shura's next scheduled court hearing is August 17th, 2026. If you enjoyed this video, please consider subscribing to support this channel.