A judge has dismissed – for now – the charges against a man accused of DUI manslaughter and DUI with property damage in connection with a 2017 crash that resulted in a death.
In his Sept. 23 order, issued a day after hearing from lawyers from the prosecution and the defense, Circuit Judge Peter Brigham said the state can refile the charges should Michael Patrick Haslup "become mentally competent to stand trial in the future."
Haslup, 51, is to be transported by sheriff's officials "to the appropriate receiving facility for evaluation of whether the defendant meets the criteria for commitment" to a civil mental health treatment facility, the order says.
The crash
Florida Highway Patrol troopers said Haslup was driving a 2000 Buick Park Avenue sedan north
within a curve on Southeast 183rd Avenue Road in October 2017. Authorities said the Buick crossed the center line, went into the south lane, and struck a 1997 Toyota RAV4 driven by Loretta E. Fillow, 72, of Ocklawaha.
Haslup was transported to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital for treatment of broken ribs, FHP said. Fillow was taken to the same hospital, where she died.
FHP officials said they recovered five pill bottles and several empty Natural Ice beer cans from the Buick.
![Judge Peter Brigham listens to testimony during Cristian Omar Polanco’s trial Wednesday morning, September 27, 2023 in the Marion County Judicial Center. Polanco was arrested in March 2021 at Lindale Mobile Home Park, in the 5400 block of Northeast 35th Street. A witness told a sheriff's deputy that Polanco pushed a man, later identified as 85-year-old Paul Everett Leach, out of a moving vehicle. Polanco is charge with second degree murder and aggravated battery on person 65 or older. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2023](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2023/09/27/NOSB/70982487007-oca-polanco-trial-12.JPG)
A woman told troopers that before the crash Haslup was at a residence not far away, drinking and taking pills, including Xanax and Soma. She said she asked him to remain at the residence, but he left.
Troopers said the Buick was traveling 57 mph in a posted 45 mph zone. He had a low blood-alcohol level, but law enforcement said Haslup tested positive for at least two controlled substances.
From the time of his arrest, in 2018, Haslup has had his bond revoked and has been evaluated for mental competency, according to court records. He was committed to the state Department of Children and Families' care in late 2021, the judge's order states.
Representing Haslup at the hearing was Junior Barrett of the Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel office. Assistant State Attorney Meredith Poisson was the prosecutor.
Haslup has been at North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center, which provided regular reports of his psychiatric status and treatment.
The judge's order states: "The defendant, Michael Haslup, has been incompetent to proceed for five (5) consecutive years despite receiving competency training, mental health care, and psychotropic medications. The defendant remains incompetent to stand trial and there is no substantial probability that said defendant will become mentally competent to stand trial in the foreseeable future."
The judge based his ruling on the testimony of three doctors who testified via Zoom at the Sept. 22 hearing.
The judge said it's the recommendation of DCF, as spelled out in a clinical summary, that Haslup "appears to meet the criteria for involuntary commitment and treatment."
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Nine years later, DUI manslaughter case still not resolved. Here's why:
