An early morning police chase resulted in the arrest of 28-year old Albert Jarell Thompson Jr. Tuesday. The chase took place in Riverside Heights and ended when the car hit a house and Thompson was arrested running from the wreckage. The Tampa man was charged with fleeing the traffic stop, battery on a law enforcement officer, driving without a license, reckless driving and leaving the scene of a crash, according to booking records. (read more)
Officers tried to pull Thompson over on Columbus Drive because they felt he was driving recklessly. When Thompson failed to pull over the officer called for back-up. Police tried to trap him at Highland and Amelia avenues. Thompson slammed his Buick into one of the police cars, pushed it out of the way and then fled. After spotting Thompson’s car in the front yard of a Ridgewood Ave. home, Thompson was spotting fleeing on foot when officers used a stun gun to halt the man and arrested him.
If you or a loved one has been ticketed for a traffic offense anywhere in the state of Florida, please do not hesitate to contact David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourticket.com to discuss the matter.
Monthly Archives: June 2009
Florida’s New Seat Belt Laws Go Into Effect On Tuesday
Starting Tuesday Florida law enforcement officers can pull cars over and issue traffic tickets if the driver of the car or the front-seat passenger is not wearing a seat belt and according to state troopers they are planning strict enforcement of the new law. FHP said troopers will write a $30 ticket for anyone not wearing their seat belt. Florida is now the 28th state to have a primary seat belt law. (read more)
While law enforcement is cheering the change as a way to keep Florida drivers safe, the ACLU is opposed to the law. The ACLU feels the best way to get people to wear seat belts is not to make it a crime and bring law enforcement into the process but when Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed the law on May 6 the ACLU’s battle to keep the potential law off the books died. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration applauded Crist’s decision to sign the law saying it will save 100 lives per year in Florida.
If you or a loved one has been ticketed anywhere in Florida under the new seat belt law, please do not hesitate to contact Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourticket.com to discuss the matter.
Sarasota Woman Faces Child Neglect Charges After Being Accused Of DUI With Child In The Car
Manatee County Sheriffs have charged a Sarasota woman with child neglect after she was charged with DUI with her child in the car. According to the sheriffs Dannis Barrows had a blood alcohol level of .216, which is nearly three times the legal limit in Florida. (read more)
Deputies responded to a citizen’s call reporting a reckless driver Wednesday night at 11:45 p.m. The officers said they gave Barrows the opportunity to call family or friends to take her and her child home but she told deputies she was not intoxicated and never made a call after they waited for 45 minutes for someone to show up.
If you or a loved one has been arrested for a DUI in Bradenton, Sarasota or anywhere in Manatee County, please do not hesitate to contact Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourbradentondui.com to discuss the matter.
Blood Sample Thrown Out In Tampa DUI Case
The DUI case versus WTVT Ch. 13 morning anchor Russell Rhodes got a little more difficult for Tampa prosecutors on Thursday when a Hillsborough judge threw out the blood evidence. The judge ruled that Rhodes gave consent for the blood test while under duress and was not informed by the officer that he was not required to sign the form. (read more)
County Judge Cheryl Thomas granted the defense motion to suppress the blood sample agreeing consent was not given voluntarily. Rhodes was arrested at Channelside and tests showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.178, which is twice the limit of what Florida considers impaired. Rhodes was not given a breath test. Hillsborough sheriff’s Deputy Shawn Morrey testified that he informed Rhodes of his options however that testimony was at odds with statements the deputy made under oath in March.
If you or a loved one has been arrested for a DUI in Tampa or Hillsborough County, please do not hesitate to contact Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourtampadui.com to discuss the matter.
Cleveland Cavalier Tarence Kinsey charged with DUI in Tampa
Tampa Police reportedly charged Cleveland Cavalier guard Tarence Kinsey with DUI on Tuesday. According to reports officer Anthony Portman saw Kinsey driving erratically and speeding in his Bentley. The NBA player failed a field sobriety test but refused to take a Breathalyzer. He was arrested and bail was set at $500. (read more)
Kinsey was in his first year with the Cavaliers and played in 50 games for the Eastern Conference Champions. Kinsey played collegiately at the University of South Carolina and spent the first two years of his career as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. Kinsey’s average points per game has decreased every year since posting 7.7 per game in his rookie season.
If you or a loved one has been arrested for a DUI, please do not hesitate to contact Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourtampadui.com to discuss the matter.
Teen Driver In Tampa Offered A Deal By Cop In Fatal Hit-And-Run In Hyde Park
Teenager Jordan Vasquez recently gave a statement to the State Attorney’s Office about a fatal hit-and-run crash in which she claims the officer made her an offer and an internal Tampa Police Department document says “they are awaiting a response”. (read more). Nobody involved is speaking to the media about the situation involving the death of Melissa Sjostrom who was struck and killed by a vehicle walking across South Hyde Park Avenue near Azeele Street.
Tampa Police have been searching for evidence to implicate Vasquez in the hit-and-run and have searched her home and seized computers and phones hoping to uncover evidence against the teen who was 16 at the time of the accident. The teen has only been issued a citation for civil careless-driving but that was dismissed when the detective who issued the citation failed to show up in court to testify.
If you or a loved one has a traffic ticket in Tampa or Hillsborough County that you need help with, please contact Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourtampadui.com.
Sarasota County Judges Exclude 72 Breath Test Results in Southwest Florida
The breath test machines police use to arrest suspected DUI drivers are under fire and a recent ruling in Sarasota, Florida is just fanning the flames. Two judges threw out results in 72 cases on Tuesday based on technical aspects of how the Intoxilyzer 8000 works. When prosecutors were unable to answer defense attorney questions about the machines, judges threw the test results out. (read more)
For nearly four years Finebloom & Haenel along with several other attorneys in Sarasota and Manatee Counties have tried to determine the reliability of the Intoxilyzer 8000. Throughout their research they discovered numerous problems with the machine. Based on the problems Finebloom & Haenel requested that the State of Florida turn over the source code. A review of the code by Defense experts would allow them to determine if the machine is reliable. The State fought the Defense requests arguing that there has been no evidence presented that the machine was unreliable. The Court in Sarasota & Manatee disagreed and ordered the production of the code to Defense experts for their review. The State then argued that they did not have the code in their possession. As a result, Finebloom & Haenel requested the Court in Sarasota and Manatee Counties to issue a subpoena directly to CMI the manufacturer of the Intoxilyzer 8000.
The Judges in Sarasota and Manatee Counties did issue that subpoena and CMI for the last two years has refused to release the code to Defense experts based on the fact it is a trade secret. This argument fails to hold water and now the prosecution of almost 450 cases has been compromised. In 72 of the cases the Court ruled that the machine was not an approved machine; therefore, if the Defendant was read the implied consent warning the test will be excluded from any trial. DUI’s in Florida are governed by the Implied Consent law. If you look at the bottom of your license it specifically states that the operation of a motor vehicle constitutes consent to any sobriety test required by law. However, the law also states that you only consent to an approved machine and the Courts have ruled in those 72 cases the machine is not approved therefore the breath test results are not admissible into evidence.
In total, 450 cases weigh in the balance. This latest ruling goes one step further then the court’s previous rulings. The Courts in Sarasota and Manatee formerly ruled that the State would have to provide expert testimony in order to have the Defendant’s breath test results admitted into evidence. The State would have to show that the machine is scientifically reliable. Prior to these rulings, the State simply had to show that the machine was tested on a monthly and yearly basis and complied with the rules.
If you or a loved one has been arrested for a DUI even if the arrest was not due to the Intoxilyzer 5000 or 8000, please do not hesitate to contact Darren FInebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at www.fightyourdui.com to discuss the matter.
Sarasota DUI Court Graduated 32 Participants In This Year’s Class
Last week 32 men and women graduated in Sarasota but not from any local college. The graduates celebrated finishing Sarasota’s DUI Court, which is a four-phase program including comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment, close supervision and full accountability. (read more)
The mission of the yearlong program is to reduce the number of repeat offenders by giving DUI drivers alternative treatments. The Sarasota DUI Court was started last year and spearheaded by Judge David Denkin. It is the third one in Florida but a fourth is scheduled to open up in Manatee County.
As this article shows, if you have received a DUI there are many options you can be offered. If you or any loved one needs help with a DUI in Sarasota, please contact David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at www.fightyourdui.com to discuss the matter.
Bradenton Man Charged For Leaving The Scene Of An Accident Trying To Avoid A DUI
James Hasley, Sr., a 54-year old Manatee County resident, was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident last week. According to the Florida Highway Patrol a woman in the back of Hasley’s pick-up truck was thrown from the bed when Hasley swerved after she pounded on the roof of his cab (read more). The woman was taken to a St. Petersburg hospital by helicopter with serious injuries.
Hasley told troopers he saw the woman fall out of the truck and dropped of his son to check on her while he drove home. He said he left the scene due to the fact he was worried he would have been charged with a DUI had he called the police once the women was injured. Hasley was released on $5,000.00 bail.
If you or anyone in your family needs help with a DUI in Bradenton or has a traffic ticket anywhere in Manatee County, please contact David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at www.fightyourbradentondui.com to discuss the matter.
Orlando Man Arrested For DUI In 10-Car Pile-up
Jairo Ramirez of Orlando was charged with a DUI and causing a personal injury crash early Saturday morning on I-4. The 24-year old Orange County resident allegedly admitted to police “You got me” after police say he failed a series of field sobriety test on the shoulder of I-4 at approximately 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning (read more).
The accident involved 10 cars and shut down the highway for nearly two hours. Tests conducted at the county DUI center showed Ramierz’s blood alcohol level was 0.107 which is above the 0.080 that the state defines as intoxicated. Three motorists involved in the crash suffered minor injuries and were treated at local hospitals according to reports.
If you or any loved one needs help with a DUI charge or any criminal or traffic violation in the state of Florida, please contact Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at www.fightyourorlandodui.com to discuss the matter.