alcohol

Published on: January 14, 2018

Police Officer Who Used Gun to Threaten Man Was Arrested for DUI

On December 21, a Florida man who worked as an auxiliary police officer for the Starke Police Department was placed under arrest for driving under the influence after being reported for allegedly drawing a gun on a pedestrian.

When 47-year-old reserve officer Brian Davis was walking across the street near a local establishment called the Whiskey River Bar he slapped the hand of a man who was walking near him. Upon reporting the incident to a Bradford County Sheriff’s Office deputy nearby the man claimed that the encounter led to an argument, and Davis pulled out a gun while making threats toward him. The man was also able to show the officer the GMC truck that Davis was driving.

Davis was inside his truck when the deputy approached him to perform a traffic stop. He was in the driver’s seat, and he had a passenger with him who was identified as his son. Upon inspection it was noticed that the vehicle allegedly contained two cans of open beer and a half full bottle of alcohol. A handgun fitting the description of the weapon used to threaten the man who reported the event was located next to the driver seat.

Continue reading →

Published on: December 22, 2017

Student Recants Previous Refusal to Report Alleged Sex with Teacher

by Staycie R. Sena

A Beaumont, California teacher is facing charges for allegations that she had sexual relations with a student on various occasions. She was also reported to have supplied alcohol for the encounters.

Samantha Ciotta began working as an English teacher at Beaumont High School in 2015. In August this year, a student discovered a Snapchat video believed to contain footage of Ciotta scantily clad and inebriated with two shirtless minors When the Beaumont Unified School District caught wind of the rumored video they reported it to the police, which launched an official investigation.

According to documents, when authorities questioned one of the alleged victims he aggressively refused to talk to them about Ciotta, and he stated that he had moved on.

Continue reading →

Published on: October 17, 2017

DUI Arrest Leads Western Kentucky Hilltoppers’ Assistant Basketball Coach to Resign

by Staycie R. Sena

WKU’s director of media relations Zach Greenwell reported that assistant men’s basketball coach Ben Hansbrough has resigned from his position on Monday to “pursue other opportunities.” Hansbrough spent two seasons as a support staffer with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, and he was promoted to a full-time assistant coach this summer. His departure from the job followed his arrest on Saturday for allegedly driving under the influence.

Police responded to a report of a collision between Hansbrough’s car and a second automobile in the El Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant parking lot. According to the arrest report the second driver claimed he smelled alcohol on Hansbrough’s breath. When the officer asked if he had consumed any alcohol that night Hansbrough maintained that he had not had anything to drink since the previous evening.

The arrest report also stated that the officer administered a standard field sobriety test and Hansbrough allegedly showed indications of intoxication. He was taken into custody and the arresting officer claimed he could smell alcohol on his person as he put him into the police car.

Continue reading →

Published on: September 28, 2017

Off-duty Officer Arrested in DUI Crash Leaving 3 Dead

by Staycie R. Sena

Officer Edgar Verduzco had been driving down the 605 freeway in Whitter when his car veered to the right into the adjoining lane and made impact with the back end of a Nissan carrying two parents and their child. The mother, father and teenage son were pronounced dead at the scene. Verduzco was suspected of DUI.

26-year-old Verduzco, an Army veteran who has worked at the front desk of the police department for two years, had allegedly been driving approximately 65 mph when he struck the Nissan causing it to combust, and leaving the victims without an escape from their vehicle. They have not yet been identified due to the state of the remains.

Immediately following the initial accident Verduzco’s car continued on and struck another vehicle before he came to a stop. The driver from the second vehicle was reported to have suffered minor injuries, and Verduzco acquired a broken nose.

Continue reading →

Published on: July 3, 2017

Avoiding a DUI this July 4

by Staycie R. Sena

Although the message of not drinking and driving is a simple one, DUIs account for about 3,200 arrests each day throughout the United States. Additionally, about one third of those arrests are by repeat offenders. The OC Sheriff and local police departments will be out in force on July 4 to nab those who are driving drunk, or even just buzzed. They may set up routine checkpoints to check whether drivers have been drinking, or they may target individuals who are driving erratically. Cell phones allow concerned citizens to act as an enforcement unit of their own, reporting drunk drivers on highways or in their neighborhoods. Those who have been reported may arrive home to find the police waiting for them in their driveway.

Police on patrols may be extra vigilant on holidays, paying close attention to drivers and the way they are driving. If you make an illegal U-turn, fail to completely stop at a stop sign, drive above the speed limit, or weave or drive erratically, they may be more inclined to stop you to check for a possible DUI. Once you are pulled over, there are certain things you should do, and not do, to get the best outcome for your situation:

First, it’s important to realize that you don’t have to be drinking to be found guilty of DUI. If you are tired, drowsy, have taken sleeping pills, allergy medicine, prescribed or unprescribed painkillers, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant medication, have been smoking or vaping pot etc., a police officer may arrest you for generally “Driving while intoxicated.” If you have been drinking alcohol, you may also be arrested for the secondary “Driving while BAC > 0.08%” charge.

Continue reading →

Published on: September 7, 2015

How To Avoid a DUI on Labor Day

by Staycie R. Sena

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents of Orange County to plan ahead for Labor Day festivities that involve alcohol. The agency will be deploying multiple DUI checkpoints throughout the area with the intention of arresting anybody who is driving a vehicle who is under the influence of alcohol.

Officials recommend planning ahead to get a safe ride home at the end of the night. Such plans can include designating a sober driver, using Uber or a taxi service, or calling a sober friend or family member to give you a ride home. They also recommend taking car keys away from any individual who appears to be intoxicated so they are unable to drive.

Continue reading →

Published on: October 6, 2014

Grandma Charged For Leaving Baby At Home Alone While Partying

by Staycie R. Sena

A mom dropped off her one-year old child at her grandmother’s house at 8 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. She later attempted to contact the grandmother by phone at about 10 p.m. the same night but was unable to reach her. Fearing for the woman’s safety, the concerned daughter called police, who entered the apartment at about 1 a.m. to allegedly find the house empty, with the small child unsupervised, sleeping on the couch.

About fifteen minutes later, the grandmother returned home and reportedly told police she was “sitting on a wall drinking with a friend.” She supposedly returned to her apartment because she saw police and flashing lights around her apartment and thought, “they must be here for me.”

Continue reading →