New York Criminal Lawyer Blog

The police department in Seattle has launched a major internal investigation into the alleged mishandling of dozens of DWI cases by members of the department's DWI Squad. This means some cases will have to be placed on hold while the investigation goes on.

A local attorney made a statement that his criminal division will go over recent and past driving-under-the-influence (DWI) cases to figure out if they may be affected by what might be found during the police investigation, a New York Criminal Lawyer alleges about the case.

Sources familiar with the matter and later confirmed by the department states that there were arrest warrants that weren’t properly filed and investigated.

Other officers will put on special assignment to take charge of the night shift squad's regular DWI-enforcement jobs during the investigation and street officers will keep up their watch for drivers who may be under the influence, the department said.

The head of the Seattle police union who happens a 32-year veteran, very often did not report to work and approved DWI arrests by phone, one reliable source confirmed.

A rubber stamp was then used by DWI officers to stamp the sergeant's name to reports, the source said. This routine has been going on for around a year, confirmed a Bronx Criminal Lawyer. The Police Department is looking into the likelihood that the sergeant's name was stamped on reports without first getting in touch with him, said some sources inside the department.

The investigation is just part of the latest trouble to hit the unit, which is under review by the U.S. Department of Justice over accusations that officers used extreme force in a couple of high-profile cases. The Justice Department, among other things, is looking at whether the Police Department has good procedures to make sure that front-line officials are keeping up with their jobs.

In a written statement, the Police Department began to review of some "supervisory inconsistencies" within the DWI Squad. That investigation is still pending. “After a closer inspection, it was figured that administrative policy violations were in fact going on,” the statement said.

The case is still under investigation.

Continue reading "DWI Cases Suspended" »

A 33-year-old man fought with police about his arrest for driving under the influence at almost 3am March 18 near a busy intersection, revealed a New York Criminal Lawyer.

The man was pulled over after supposedly stopping his car inside the cross streets at a red light and weaving in and out of his lane.

He apparently reeked strongly of alcohol, had bloodshot and glassy eyes and at first told officers he had just a couple of drinks, but then said he had not been drinking and again later said he had a few drinks. He changed his story repeatedly, leading to doubts about his credibility in this case. That and the fact that he could not pass sobriety tests that were given to him over the course of the night.

He had problems keeping his balance while standing and was arrested after failing several field sobriety tests, according to Brooklyn Criminal Lawyer. On the way to the police station and while he was being tended to, the man allegedly asked police over and over again how they could arrest him for DWI because he said he was walking home from the bar. He refused to do a breath test, although he repeatedly insisted that he was in fact walking, not driving at all.

He will face charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and disobeying a traffic control device, unless it can be proven that he was in fact walking and not driving. At this time, it’s too soon to tell if that can happen since his car was found at the scene.

He was released on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court April 27. His car was removed from the scene and his wife came to the station to pick him up.

Whether you are found innocent or guilty of a DWI charge, it can create significant problems in your life. If you are charged with this offense, it is important to take prompt action to ensure that your rights are protected.

Continue reading "Man Accused of DWI Says He Was Walking, Not Driving" »

A report commented on how a model police detective, a professional with a sterling arrest record and meritorious conduct record, disappointed his community and his co-workers when he was arrested for DWI last week. The detective was arrested after officers noticed his erratic driving while operating an unmarked police vehicle. Charged with drunk driving on Friday night and arrested, the detective was arraigned in Albany court on Monday, but would not comment on his case. The detective is the spokesperson for the local police department and reporters are accustomed to his detailed reports on crimes for which arrests have been made or verdicts been given by the local court.

Residents were not pleased with the conduct of one of their local heroes. Most of their responses had to do with disappointment over the hypocrisy involved in the detective’s behavior. One woman said she was disappointed that the detective had been enforcing laws he couldn't uphold himself. Another resident commented on how telling it was that the detective refused a breathalyzer test at the time he was stopped. "That says a lot," was all that one resident had to say about it.

The head of a local action group against drunk driving found a silver lining in the disappointing arrest made Friday night. The activist said that it was encouraging that local law enforcement was willing to arrest "one of their own" because in other counties it is not the case. She went on to say that she hoped the detective had learned his lesson in all of this, and that "He's lucky he didn't hit anybody."

The detective issued a statement to the press in which he expressed regret for the "negative publicity" the incident had spurred, and how it has impacted his family and his employer, sources close to the incident reported to a newsman. The detective was suspended without pay. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 2011. This would be the procedure in Brooklyn and The Bronx also.

The local department's removal of Detective Miller required the appointment of a replacement for media relations, authorities relayed to a TV station. Deputy Chief Stephen Reilly was given the appointment.

The detective has been serving the local police department for 19 years.

Continue reading "Model Police Detective Lets Down His Community and His Department with DWI Arrest" »

Law enforcement officials told a New York Criminal Lawyer that a reputable Senator’s son from Illinois pled guilty to driving while intoxicated. The charge was a misdemeanor, but it was enough to embarrass the law maker and cause his son to receive a probation sentence with an order to get treatment for abuse of alcohol. He also received a fine of $1,250. “This was a slap on the wrist,” said one resident to an investigator . Most people think that if the accused was not the son of an Illinois Senator, he would have been charged to the full extent of the law. Many thought that it was a cover up of justice and wished that it would have gone the other way to teach the son a good lesson.
Police indicated that this is not the first time that the Senator’s son has been in trouble with the law. The Police gave the accused a citation that he was changing lanes. It was obviously because he had been drinking and driving while under the influence of alcohol.
All of this happened while he was driving his SUV and coming from a night out in downtown Chicago. It could have been in The Bronx or Brooklyn. When the police tested him, his blood alcohol level was way over the limit allowed legally. The Police told a NY Criminal Lawyer that court records showed that the accused had some run-ins with the law related to the same offense both in 2004 and 2008.
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Continue reading "Senate Son and DUI charges" »

A North Ridgeville man was recently arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, DWI which is his seventh similar charge in the past 25 years. In NYC, this would lead to serious jail time.

The 40-year old North Ridgeville native appears to be expressing regret in regards to his irresponsible actions; DUI’s account for countless deaths across the nation every year. In 1991, the defendant was convicted of his first DUI. Merely a year later he was charged with a further two counts, and three additional counts of DUI around a decade later. This recent charge, his seventh, appears to stem from the recent death of the man’s father, a hardship that led him to this current chargeable offense. A New York City Criminal Lawyer reveals that the defendant expressed sorrow regarding the most recent incident, saying “I know what I've done is a very serious offense. Sobriety is my No. 1 priority”. This admittance was directed toward the Huron County Common Pleas Judge during the course of the sentence hearing of the convicted, which occurred on Tuesday March 01.

The Common Pleas Judge was reported to have responded, “Drinking and driving ... is too big of a risk for the public”. The judge followed up his decisive comments with decisive action that included a lengthy driver’s license suspension of five years, as well as a monetary fine of $1500. This recent scenario involving the North Ridgeville man began last June, when he was pulled over for driving his vehicle without the use of headlights, while traveling west on U.S. 20, close to the nearby town of Wakeman. The man’s attorney was available for comment: “Since this incident, he has gotten back on track”. The attorney went on to comment upon his client’s foreseeable future: “I believe this (sentencing) will be a positive for him”.

As part of an important healing and restoration process, the convicted man finished a substance abuse program of his own volition, which no doubt showed his responsible initiative and had a positive effect on the judge’s decision. Additionally, "It is a fact that drinking and driving, no matter the circumstances, often results in undesirable consequences. Should you find yourself in such a situation that seems to be resulting in legal consequences, a New York Criminal Attorney is prepared to render service to you or those whom you care about.
It is discerns that the man has attended gatherings of AA, a commitment that the defendant himself has admitted to be wise indeed and worthy of continuation. As of now the North Ridgeville defendant is under three years of probation that includes random drug screens- screens that, if failed, would result in 2.5 years in prison. Brooklyn has tough laws against DWI as do most areas of New York City.

Continue reading "A local man is arrested and charged with his seventh DUI in 20 years" »

A Massachusetts man whose license had been revoked due to previous charges of drunk driving fell asleep while being questioned by police, Springfield Police said to NY Criminal Lawyers.
The 34-year-old Springfield man was arrested in Indian Orchard, Mass., early one morning at around 2 a.m.
A Springfield police sergeant told NY Criminal Lawyers that officers observed the suspect pull a BMW into a plaza and park his vehicle next to a dumpster. The car had heavy damage to the front end.
There had already been a number of break-ins in the area, which prompted officers to investigate, to make sure there was no criminal activity. The suspect spotted the police and ran away to hide in some tall grass before police caught up. He was given a field sobriety test and asked a number of questions, during which the suspect fell asleep.
The suspect was asked at one point why he had run away from the police. According to the police sergeant, the suspect said “because I was drunk.” The sergeant explained to NY Criminal Lawyers that the suspect also admitted to using cocaine.
Inside the car, bottles of beer and liquor had been found, some of them already empty.
The suspect had already been arrested for operating under the influence in 2006 and again in 2009. The sergeant found the suspect’s driver’s license had already been revoked due to OUI.
The suspect has been arrested for charges of DWI (liquor), OUI (drugs), operating a vehicle without a license, resisting arrested, and an open container violation. He will be arraigned in Springfield District Court.
First time, or several strikes, everyone needs a good advocate when it comes to a criminal arrest. There are many attorneys out there who are willing to take on a case, but there are only some that are the best – the ones that ensure any given case will come to its best possible outcome. A trial could affect the entire future of a person and that person’s family, so it’s best not to take chances with substandard representation. DWI in The Bronx and Brooklyn, NY are crimes which are taken very seriously by law enforcement.

Continue reading "DUI Suspect Falls Asleep During Questioning in Springfield" »