The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office has asked a state agency to reassign the case of a Warren judge suspected of being drunk when he crashed his vehicle into a SMART bus.

The Prosecutor’s Office referred the matter of Judge John Chmura of 37th District Court in Warren and Center Line to the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council for a reassignment to another prosecutor’s office to avoid the appearance of impropriety, county Prosecutor Peter Lucido stated in a news release Friday.

“As Judge Chmura presides over cases brought by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, maintaining impartiality and public confidence in the judicial process is paramount,” the release says. “The office seeks to ensure there is no perception of preferential treatment or influence in matters pending before the court.”

An inquiry to the state Attorney General office, under which the PACC operates, was not immediately responded to Friday.

Also, in response to a Macomb Daily Freedom of Information Act request, SMART recently released a video that shows the impact of a vehicle, allegedly a Ford Fusion driven by Chmura, crashing into the rear of the bus. The vehicle is seen in the video bouncing backward from the impact and the airbag deploying.

Sterling Heights police submitted a warrant request based on an investigation of allegations that Chmura crashed the Fusion into the SMART bus at about 11:30 p.m. March 25 on Van Dyke Avenue near Triangle Drive, south of Hall Road. Chmura was taken into custody and lodged at the Macomb County Jail.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene and assessed those involved for injuries. Two of the four passengers onboard the SMART bus were provided medical care on scene and released.

Chmura was booked and processed at the jail pending the results of a blood test. Results typically are completed within weeks. According to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, Chmura’s initial blood alcohol content of the driver was double the legal limit of .08%.

Chmura had been at a candidate’s fundraiser early that night at Da Franceso’s Ristorante and Bar on Van Dyke in Shelby Township, north of where the incident happened, but had left hours earlier.