DUI Defense

December 21, 2015

North Royalton Man Arrested for DUI After Speeding Out of Taco Bell Drive-thru

Recently, a man whose name was not revealed was pulled over by North Royalton Police after an officer observed the driver speeding out of a Taco Bell drive-thru in a Dodge Avenger. The incident took place on December 11 in North Royalton, OH according to news reports.

The officer claimed he noticed the smell of alcohol when talking to the driver. He also said the man acted drunk. While the driver denied he had been drinking, he replied “really?” when the officer asked him about the smell. The officer did comment that the driver was polite.

While talking to the driver, the officer noticed what he believed to be marijuana in the center console of the vehicle. Upon searching the Avenger, he discovered a jar filled with marijuana, a pipe, and grinder. The officer administered a field sobriety test, which the driver failed. During the test, the suspect reportedly made the comment “It got a little hard there at the end.”

December 14, 2015

22-year-old Longwood Woman Arrested for DUI After Driving with 5-month-old Son, Crashing into Another Driver Head-on, More

by Scott Grabel

On Thursday December 10, a Longwood woman allegedly kicked a Florida Highway Patrol officer, sideswiped one vehicle and crashed head-on into another, and drove with her 5-month-old baby in the back seat of the vehicle, according to an article at the Orlando Sentinel. Troopers say 22-year-old Carlene Musselwhite was driving drunk when all of this occurred.

Following the two incidents with other vehicles, troopers found Musselwhite after a resident in the neighborhood she was in helped her out of her vehicle, and called 911. Upon their arrival, troopers found the baby in the back seat of the vehicle. They noticed that Musselwhite had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol, according to the arrest affidavit. Musselwhite did not deny she had been drinking, telling officers she had been at a work event; however she did say she was not impaired. She was put into handcuffs after failing two field sobriety tests.

Three troopers had to wrestle Musselwhite into the back of a patrol car after she refused to get in. Once in the vehicle, she reportedly kicked a window out of its frame. A sergeant arrived after the troopers removed her from the patrol car. Upon trying to put her into his own car, she allegedly kicked the sergeant.

December 7, 2015

Man Charged with DUI in Connecticut Following Police Chase that Results in Rollover Accident

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday evening December 4, a man was arrested in Waterford following a police chase that led to a rollover accident. Dylon M. Goss, 22, of New London reportedly fled police after he was spotted driving in an erratic manner on Route 1 near Clark Lane. News reports state the incident occurred at about 10 p.m.

Goss allegedly accelerated when Waterford police pulled behind his vehicle in the area of Willetts Avenue. As the chase continued, the vehicle eventually rolled over onto its side. There were four passengers in the vehicle according to news articles, one of whom sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

Dylon Goss has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, engaging an officer in pursuit, risk of injury to a minor, reckless endangerment, improper turn, operating without a license, and more. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 14th after posting a $500 bond.

November 30, 2015

On-Duty Dallas Police Officer Has Car Accident, Arrested on Suspicion of DWI

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday afternoon November 28, James Covey, a Dallas police officer who has been with the department for almost 8 years, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI) while on duty. According to news reports, two other officers discovered Covey in high water after he became involved in an accident involving only his vehicle.

Covey was reportedly found in South Dallas in the area of 4500 Elsie Faye Heggins Street. According to the Dallas Morning News, Covey staggered out of his car and seemed disoriented when officers inquired as to how he was. He made no statement about how he became involved in the accident according to the warrant. He also wanted to retrieve some of his belongings from his vehicle before being transported to the hospital. An officer at the scene went to get the belongings Covey wanted, and discovered a cup that had an odor of alcohol. At the hospital, officers performed tests that indicated he had consumed alcohol.

Covey was arrested, and has been placed on administrative leave by the department. After posting bond on Sunday, he was released just before 3 p.m.

November 23, 2015

Brandon, FL Woman Charged with DUI After Driving Wrong Way

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday, 45-year-old Frances Cassandra Claridge of Brandon was pulled over after she was observed driving in the wrong direction in Seffner. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 in the morning when Claridge was caught allegedly driving northbound in the southbound lane on Lakewood Drive.

According to news reports at Fox 13 and WTSP, a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office patrol lieutenant pulled her over for driving the wrong way, when he noticed that her breath smelled of alcohol. According to the officer, she was also disoriented and not clear about what day it was, the time, or where she was driving. She was arrested for DUI following an investigation on the scene, and taken to Hillsborough County Jail. It was determined at the jail that Claridge’s blood alcohol content was .278 percent, more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent.

In every state, the punishment for driving under the influence is harsh although penalties may vary. In the state of Michigan, for example, anyone who is found to have a BAC of 0.17 percent or higher while operating a vehicle may be charged with Super Drunk driving. A Super Drunk OWI offense will result in penalties which are more severe than those for a regular DUI conviction. In fact, the penalties are about double for those of a regular DUI, and may include up to 180 days in jail, driver’s license suspension for 45 days with license restricted for 320 days following the suspension period, required installation of an ignition interlock device, potential community service, and more.

November 16, 2015

Clinton Township Man Charged with Felony OWI Child Endangerment

by Scott Grabel

On November 8, 25-year-old Timothy Chevalier of Clinton Township was arrested after police say he was operating his vehicle while intoxicated with his 3-month-old baby in the back seat. The incident took place in Bloomfield Hills when Chevalier was pulled over by a public safety officer about 6 p.m. for excessive speed and possible OWI, according to Lt. Noel Clason.

Chevalier refused a roadside preliminary breath test according to news reports, and failed the standard field sobriety tests. He was arrested for OWI 2nd offense, however the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office issued enhanced charges due to the fact that Chevalier’s baby was in the back seat. In addition, reports claim the vehicle contained open alcohol containers. While at the police station, Chevalier submitted to a Breathalyzer test which indicated his BAC was 0.23, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Chevalier was placed in the Oakland County Jail on a $75,000 cash or surety bond and was scheduled for a preliminary hearing for November 16 as of last reports.

November 9, 2015

Lincoln School Bus Driver Charged with DUI

by Scott Grabel

On Friday November 6, 27-year-old Ayla Johnson of Lincoln, RI was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence after she allegedly drove a school bus while intoxicated.

Modern LED light bar on police cruiser flashing red and blue emergency lights.

According to a news report at WCVB, Johnson stumbled off the bus she was driving and entered Northern Elementary School. An administrator with the school notified police, who found Johnson in the nurse’s office at the school. Police say the bus driver had a strong odor of alcohol, and they proceeded to administer a field sobriety test, which she failed. She was arrested for DUI.

November 2, 2015

Milwaukee Democratic Rep Josh Zepnick Arrested for Drunk Driving

by Scott Grabel

On Thursday October 29, Milwaukee Democratic Representative Josh Zepnick was arrested for OWI (operating while intoxicated) after he was pulled over for driving through a red light just before 8:30 p.m. According to news reports, it is Zepnick’s first drunk driving offense.

The state lawmaker told the officer who pulled him over that he had consumed five or six beers at a bar. Zepnick allegedly failed field sobriety tests which he submitted to, however he declined a breath test. According to a news article at the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, Zepnick admitted to drinking alcohol. The officer included in the incident report that Zepnick smelled of alcohol, and that his eyes looked as though he had been drinking.

Zepnick’s sister died in 1990 when she was riding her bicycle and was struck by a drunk driver. This is a subject Zepnick discussed in 2009 on the Assembly floor as lawmakers worked to stiffen drunk driving laws. Zepnick was a primary sponsor of a 2009 law signed by then-Governor Jim Doyle.

October 26, 2015

Stillwater Parade Accident Leaves Town Shocked, Woman Facing Second-Degree Murder Charges

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday October 24, the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade, which draws crowds of more than 80,000 including fans, alumni, and area residents and is considered a major celebration, abruptly came to an end when a woman driving an Elantra plowed through several barriers and struck a parked motorcycle before barreling into the crowd. It was initially suspected that the driver of the vehicle, 25-year-old Adacia Chambers, was driving under the influence. Chambers is now facing four charges of second-degree murder after four people were killed, and just under 50 injured.

On Sunday, the county’s DA said that Chambers would likely be charged with driving under the influence of drugs. Police believed she was under the influence, but did not believe alcohol was involved. Chambers’ attorney, Tony Coleman, said he did not believe his client was under the influence at all, but instead suffers from a physical or mental illness. Chambers’ family members and boyfriend also said she was sober late Friday and early Saturday when they last saw her, and that they had not seen her consume alcohol.

Coleman told USA Today that during a meeting with his client at the jail following the accident, he was not satisfied at all that he was communicating with a competent individual.

October 22, 2015

Merced, CA Woman Driving on Suspended License Arrested on Felon in Possession of Firearm Charge

by Scott Grabel

On October 17, a woman was stopped by an Angels Camp police officer due to an expired registration. 51-year-old Denise Aanonson or Merced was driving a Toyota Tacoma when she was pulled over by police at about 4 p.m., according to a recent news article at Mymotherlode.com.

Upon stopping Aanonson, the police officer discovered that she was driving on a suspended license. Although the article did not reveal why her license had been suspended, the officer asked for consent to search the Tacoma, which Aanonson agreed to. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered a .38 caliber revolver and 4.6 grams of methamphetamine.

Aanonson was cited for misdemeanor charges of possessing meth, driving with an expired registration, and driving on a suspended driver’s license. Last year, the voter-passed Proposition 47 made possession of certain drugs in California misdemeanor offenses rather than felonies. However, Aanonson was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm; she was arrested and booked into the Calaveras County Jail.