Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said he made some bad decisions and accepts responsibility for his conduct that led to a traffic stop on June 2.

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Patterson Plans To Meet With Alcohol Counselor Prosecutor Discusses County Exec's Traffic Stop

Patterson received notice in the mail Tuesday that he was being charged with reckless driving for the incident that led to the suspension of two Oakland County officers.

"Going forward from this event on June 2, I consider it to be a wake-up call and I will evaluate my conduct going forward so this will never happen again," Patterson said. "Words are cheap. I understand that. So, I'm saying to the public and to you, judge me by my deeds."

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said that Patterson should have been given a Breathalyzer test during the traffic stop.

Patterson was pulled over by officers after a witness reported seeing a gray-haired man in a Cadillac driving erratically on Dixie Highway.

Bouchard suspended a deputy and a sergeant for giving Patterson special treatment, Local 4 reported. The deputy apparently drove Patterson home in his squad car, while the sergeant followed in the politician's Cadillac.

Patterson was on his way home from a golf outing. He told The Oakland Press that he was taking pain pills because of a shoulder injury and that he "had a couple of glasses of wine after dinner. I shouldn't have had any alcohol because of the painkillers, but I was not drunk," Patterson told the newspaper.

The county executive said that he's seeking advice from a court-approved alcohol counselor to make certain that he doesn't cross the line again. He also plans to dock his own salary as punishment for his behavior, Local 4 reported.

"I work very hard …I work 12, 14, 16 hours a day. But I play hard. That's my reward for working hard. I've done that most of my life and I think people accept that," Patterson said. "But, when you play hard and you get into the situation I did, then there's no justification. So, I'm prepared to make some lifestyle changes -- work just as hard, but play a … lot less."

Patterson has a pretrial set for mid-July. He told Local 4 he would not plead guilty, but will let his attorney handle the case.

Authorities reportedly had trouble finding a prosecutor to charge Patterson. Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca removed himself from the investigation because the two men are close friends and political allies.

Lawyers from Independence Township also refused to take on the controversial traffic stop citing a conflict of interest, Local 4 reported.

Waterford Township attorneys investigated the matter and decided Patterson should be charged with reckless driving, a misdemeanor. If convicted on the charges, he could face a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail.