News

Funny and UnBelievable DWI Situations

• Alleged Drunk Driver Drunk Again at DUI Sentencing
  Mar 15, 2010

  
  A 30 year-old Nebraska man is in trouble with the law again after showing up drunk at his DUI sentencing.  His blood alcohol content was 0.43, more than five times the legal limit.  The man allegedly needed help getting into the courtroom, and was too drunk to appear in Court.
  
  Please click here for a news video regarding this case.
  
  This case is similar to a New York one that occurred a few weeks later.  Please click here for that story.  - 121 - 130

• DWI Chair Sold on Ebay for $10K
  Mar 07, 2010

  
  The motorized chair a Minnesota man was driving while drunk sold on Ebay for $10,099.99.  The man pled guilty last fall to driving the chair while intoxicated.
  - 122 - 130

• Woman Calls 911 to Report Herself as a Drunk Driver
  Mar 07, 2010

  
  A 49 year-old Wisconsin woman called police on her way home after a night of drinking to report a drunk driver - herself!  The 911 dispatcher told the driver to pull over, stop the car, and put her hazard lights on.  The woman complied, and police responded.  Her BAC at the the time she was arrested was 0.17.
  
  This is similar to another instance in which a woman driving home from a bar with her boyfriend called police, at her boyfriend's suggestion, because he thought she was too drunk to drive.  Click here for a video about that story.
  
  The same 49 year-old in February again called 911 after returning home from a bar, also resulting in her arrest.  Please click here for that story. - 123 - 130

Taser News Reports

• Suspect Grabs Officer's Taser and Shoots Him with It
  Aug 18, 2010

  
  A Missouri man has been arrested and is facing multiple serious charges after allegedly shooting a police officer with the officer's taser last Saturday after a chase.  The officer suffered second degree burns.
  
  The suspect fled a stolen car after it caught on fire on an interstate, and managed to narrowly escape capture at least twice, and over the course of a few hours.  When he was finally confronted, the 24 year-old suspect resisted arrest and tried to grab the officer's weapon.  He managed to get the taser, and shot the officer's arm.  Other motorists helped the officer subdue the suspect.
  
  
  - 124 - 130

• Louisiana Man Dies after Police Taser Him
  Aug 03, 2010

  A 49 year-old Louisiana man died Sunday after being tasered by police. An autopsy was performed yesterday, and lab results are pending. The victim fought with officers responding to calls of a man jumping off roofs; he was tasered two times, and was found unresponsive after being handcuffed. An investigation is underway. - 125 - 130

• Clarence Thomas' Nephew Tasered in Hospital
  Jul 13, 2010

  
  Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' nephew, who suffers from epilepsy, was allegedly beaten and shot with a taser after he was admitted to a New Orleans hospital.  The 25 year-old's sister said that her brother declined to put on a hospital gown and tried to leave, so security intervened, punching his face, pulling out his hair, and tasering him.  She said he suffered a seizure as a result of the incident.  The hospital said it is investigating.  
  
  While law enforcement often claims tasers are safe, many people do not agree.  There have been two fatalities in Arlington County, Virginia already this year.  One was in January when a police officer tried to subdue a shoplifting suspect on a Metro platform, and the second one occurred in April when police responded to an emergency psychiatric call.
  
  - 126 - 130

• Arlington County Taser Death
  Jul 13, 2010

  
  Police in Arlington County, Virginia, responding to an emergency call last April, tasered a naked and "combative" 32 year-old man; moments later the man wasn't breathing.  Medics were present at the time and started CPR immediately, but were unsuccessful.  The victim was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
  
  This is the second fatality this year in Arlington County involving police use of Tasers.  The first one occurred in January at a Metro station when a police officer tried to subdue a shoplifting suspect.
  
  It is also similar to a New Orleans incident this month, when Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' nephew was shot with a Taser by hospital security after he refused to put on a hospital gown and tried to flee.  - 127 - 130

• Man Dies after Police Taser Him
  Jul 13, 2010

  
  Last January a 36 year-old DC man died after Arlington County police tried to subdue him with a Taser.  
  
  The man, who was waiting on the platform at the Pentagon City Metro Stop, matched the description of a suspect who had robbed a nearby pharmacy.  News reports claim the man ignored the officer's requests and instructions and became combative.  The officer shot him with a Taser.  It is unclear whether the Taser hit him, because it seemed to have no effect on him, and he kept scuffling with the police officer.  Another officer arrived, and they were able to subdue the suspect.
  
  Shortly thereafter, the suspect had trouble breathing.  He was pronounced dead later at a local hospital. 
  
  In April, a second man died, also after Arlington County Police tried to subdue him with a Taser.  More recently, Clarence Thomas' nephew reportedly suffered a seizure after hospital security Tasered him in New Orleans. - 128 - 130

Interesting Legal News

• This Montana Citizen DID NOT Want to Serve Jury Duty
  Aug 06, 2010

  - 129 - 130

• VA House of Delegates OKs bill regarding adultery in divorce cases
  Feb 10, 2010

  
  
  

  From the Richmond Times-Dispatch website recently:

  "After a debate about the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, the House of Delegates advanced for final passage today a measure designed to determine adulterous relationships in divorce proceedings.

  If one of the parties pleads the Fifth, it would be an "adverse inference" against the party, under House Bill 14, introduced by Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince Williams.

  Del. Scott A. Surovell, D-Fairfax, objected, saying the right against self-incrimination was put into the Virginia Declaration of Rights by no less an authority than George Mason.

  "This is encroaching on the Bill of Rights, which is a big deal," said Del. Ward L. Armstrong, D-Henry County, a lawyer.

  Del. David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville, also a lawyer, defended the measure, saying there are constitutional precedents for it. It is very difficult to prove adultery in divorce cases, he said."
  
   

  - 130 - 130


Since graduating from George Mason University School of Law in 1988, I have had over 20 years of trial experience, defending citizens accused of a wide variety of misdemeanor and felony offenses in Northern Virginia.   Since 1999, my practice has been almost exclusively focused on the Fairfax County Courts, allowing me to gain an increasing familiarity with the Courts, Prosecutors and Judges here in Fairfax County, Virginia.  


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