Kent County deputy arrested for OWI

ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A week after helping to rescue a family from an apartment fire, a Kent County sheriff's deputy is facing an impaired driving charge.

Deputy Ed Kolakowski, 42, was booked at the Ottawa County Jail on a charge of operating while impaired, jail records show.

Records show he was booked at 2:30 a.m. Sunday and released at 2 p.m. the same day.

Ottawa County sheriff's officials told 24 Hour News 8 he was arrested in the area of M-45 and 128th Avenue in Robinson Township.

Ottawa County deputies responded to a disagreement between Kolakowski and his wife alongside the road, and when they arrived they noticed he was intoxicated, which led to his arrest.

Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma says Kolakowki will remain on paid suspension while the sheriff's department conducts its own investigation, which is separate from the criminal investigation. The sheriff's department may conclude its investigation and alter Kolakowski's work status before his criminal case works its way through the judicial system.

Kolakowki has worked for the department for 17 years, according to the sheriff.

Just a week ago, Kolakowski was among six Kent County deputies lauded for heroism after rescuing a mom and her three children from a smoke-filled apartment. As a deputy walked the mom and an older son out of their home at Woodfield Apartments in Gaines Township, Kolakowski carried out the two younger children.