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Super Bowl scoresheet on DUII arrests over the weekend. Score improved from last year. Fewer DUII’s.

Feb 062012

Courtesy photo

Information provided by Oregon State Police

Preliminary information indicates 3 people died in two separate fatal traffic crashes during the 2012 Super Bowl weekend between 12:01 a.m., Saturday, February 4, and 5:59 a.m., Monday, February 6. During that time period, Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers reported 38 DUII arrests, down from 59 DUII arrests reported during last year’s Super Bowl weekend.

According to ODOT’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) there is information of two confirmed fatal traffic crashes:

* On February 4th at approximately 10:58 p.m. a 19-year old male from Merlin, Oregon died in a single vehicle rollover crash on Highway 238 about four miles east of Murphy in Josephine County. The car’s 18-year old female driver was arrested the next morning upon release from a hospital on multiple charges including Manslaughter in the Second Degree and DUII. Alcohol was a contributing factor in this crash. OSP is the lead investigating agency.

* On February 5th at approximately 6:40 p.m. two people died in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 211 and Canby-Marquam Highway between Molalla and Woodburn. Positive identification and next of kin notification is pending on both victims. No information of evidence of alcohol as a contributing factor. OSP is the lead investigating agency.

Last year, there were two traffic fatalities in Oregon during Super Bowl weekend.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Super Bowl Sunday has become one of the nation’s most dangerous days on the roadways due to impaired driving. NHTSA statistics show nationally on Super Bowl Sunday 48 percent of the fatalities occurred in crashes where a driver or motorcycle rider had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 percent or higher.

OSP offices reporting 3 or more DUII arrests during the weekend’s nationwide effort to remove impaired drivers from the road:

* Central Point Area Command ˆ 6 DUII arrests
* LaGrande Area Command ˆ 4 DUII arrests
* Albany Area Command ˆ 4 DUII arrests
* Portland Area Command ˆ 4 DUII arrests
* The Dalles Area Command ˆ 4 DUII arrests
* Springfield Area Command ˆ 3 DUII arrests
* St. Helens work site ˆ 3 DUII arrests
* North Plains work site ˆ 3 DUII arrests

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Corvallis area man arrested for DUII/Reckless Driving after rollover accident on Yaquina Head Road

Drunk Driving, Newport No Responses »

Jan 102012

Brad Taylor video
Editing by Dave Morgan

Updated 12:15pm

A Corvallis area man was arrested early Tuesday morning after the SUV he was driving left the pavement on Yaquina Head Road, hit a guard rail and rolled over into the brush. Luckily, neither he nor his passenger was hurt thanks to seat belts.

Driver Dylan Beorchia was booked into the Lincoln County Jail on charges of Drunk Driving and Reckless Driving. Police say speed was a factor in the crash. Beorchia’s blood alcohol reading was .2%, nearly three times the legal limit for presumption of drunk driving.

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Seen on an American freeway byway….

Drunk Driving No Responses »

Dec 312011

Here’s a sign that applies to all those who drink and drive tonight and where they may wake up in the morning….or not.

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Newport Police Chief: Lincoln County Commissioner Terry Thompson looked “impaired.” My officer did the right thing.

Drunk Driving, Newport 3 Responses »

Dec 292011

Police Chief Mark Miranda (l), LC Comm. Terry Thompson (r)

Newport Police Chief Mark Miranda today defended his officer who arrested Lincoln County Commissioner Terry Thompson for drunk driving late in the evening of November 26th on Newport’s Bayfront. Thompson was pulled over after the officer said Thompson failed to use his turn signal.

After talking with him briefly, the officer ordered Thompson out of his car and put him through a field sobriety and agility test which the officer claimed Thompson failed. The officer’s assessment was supported by several other officers who were also on scene, according to Chief Miranda.

Thompson told the news media that when he was given a field breatholizer test it came up 0.0 for alcohol but he was none the less arrested and taken to the Lincoln County Jail where he gave a urine test. Later, Thompson’s urine test came back 0.0 as well with no evidence of any other drugs in his system.

The case was referred to the Linn County District Attorney to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest with the Lincoln County DA’s Office. Special Prosecutor Jason Carlisle this week declined to file the charges as outlined in Thompson’s ticket, reportedly for a lack of evidence for the DUII charge.

“My officer did the right thing by stopping Mr. Thompson and based on his assessment of Mr. Thompson properly arrested him on suspicion of DUII,” said Chief Miranda. “There were several other officers on scene that agreed with my officer that Mr. Thompson appeared impaired. It’s just unfortunate that things played out the way they did. My officer and the others did their job based on their professional training and education.”

Thompson said at the time that the field sobriety test requires a kind of agility that few people his age could pass even when well rested. “I may have been a little tired but I was fully capable of driving my car in a safe manner,” said Thompson. “My only crime was driving at night while being old. No one wants drunk drivers on the road, but I have the right to go to the waterfront at night and watch the fishing vessels come in and deliver their catches without fear of being pulled over and thrown in jail.”

Terry Thompson is a life-long commercial fisherman, former member of the Oregon House of Representatives and is currently a Lincoln County Commissioner.

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DUII charges against LC Commissioner Terry Thompson dropped

Drugs, Drunk Driving, Law Enforcement, Newport No Responses »

Dec 292011

After reviewing evidence surrounding the arrest of Lincoln County Commissioner Terry Thompson, Special Prosecutor Jason Carlisle declined to press the case against Thompson. Charges of DUII were dropped.

Thompson’s blood alcohol test at the traffic stop on the Bayfront earlier this month showed no alcohol present and two urine tests, one at the Lincoln County Jail, the other at North Lincoln Hospital, showed no trace of alcohol or any drugs.

Thompson released this press release this morning:

Linn County special prosecutor Jason Carlile assigned to handle the
alleged DUII arrest of Lincoln County Commissioner Terry Thompson on
Nov. 26th has decided not to file charges after reviewing the results of
both an alcohol breath test of .00 (no alcohol present) and urine drug
test analyzed by the state crime lab showing no presence of any
controlled substance or common pharmaceuticals.

Thompson is concerned over a process that does not allow for
expungement of police reports or driving records listing arrests of
innocent individuals for at least one year from the date of the arrests.
He also added that the process does not include an avenue to hold
enforcement officers responsible for pulling over innocent individuals
on an assumption of DUII.

Commissioner Thompson said “My only crime was driving at night while
being old.” He added, “No one wants drunk drivers on the road, but
I have the right to go to the waterfront at night and watch the fishing
vessels coming in to deliver their catches without the fear of being
pulled over and thrown in jail.”

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Drive Sober or Be Pulled Over…

Drunk Driving No Responses »

Dec 282011

DON’T RISK IT: “DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER”
From Oregon State Police

It is not worth the risk to drive while impaired, so Oregon law enforcement agencies are reminding everyone to Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over and not let your 2011 end or New Year begin with an arrest for DUII.

“During the Christmas and New Years holiday season, many adults celebrate and enjoy themselves with a couple of drinks, but even one may increase the risk of a crash while driving a motor vehicle,” said Captain Mike Dingeman, director of the Oregon State Police (OSP) Patrol Services Division.

State, county and city law enforcement agencies in Oregon and throughout the country are stepping up enforcement efforts during the New Year’s Holiday weekend starting 6:00 p.m., Friday, December 30, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, January 2, 2012. In support of law enforcement efforts to reduce crashes caused by impaired and other dangerous drivers, ODOT variable message signs will also display the reminder highway travelers to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over during the holiday weekend.

One person died in an Oregon traffic crash during last year’s 78-hour reporting period for the New Year’s Holiday weekend. According to ODOT’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), approximately 5 people died on average each year in Oregon traffic crashes during the New Year’s Holiday period.

OSP troopers reported 79 DUII drivers arrested over last year’s New Years Holiday period. More than half of the arrests happened January 1st between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m.

“There is nothing to celebrate sitting in a jail cell,” said Deschutes County Sheriff Larry Blanton, President of the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association (OSSA). “Don’t let your 2011 holiday season end in an arrest or something worse. Remember, it’s not worth the risk.”

Oregon State Police, Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association, Oregon Association Chiefs of Police (OACP), and ODOT officials offer these safety tips:

Newport Police Chief Mark Miranda urges anyone seeing a suspected impaired driving on any road to call 9-1-1 or Oregon State Police at 1-800-24DRUNK (800-243-7865).

“That one call could save someone’s life,” said Chief Miranda, OACP President.

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DUII Arrests up, fatalities down during “Lifesaver Weekend”

Drunk Driving No Responses »

Dec 192011

Info provided by OSP

Oregon State Police troopers reported an increase in DUII arrests last weekend during the three-day “National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend” between 12:01 a.m., Friday, December 16, and 11:59 p.m., Sunday, December 18. Preliminary information also indicates two people died during that period, a drop from the previous year.

The reported fatalities are:

* A 77-year old bicyclist involved in a collision with a car Friday morning, December 16, in Terrebonne died Sunday according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

* On Sunday evening, December 18, one person died in a single vehicle traffic crash on SE Currin Road near SE Duus Road outside of Estacada. Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the investigation.

Last year during “National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend”, December 17 – 19, three people died in 3 separate fatal traffic crashes on Oregon roads. One of the three fatalities occurred in an alcohol-involved crash.

Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers reported 50 DUII arrests during “National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend”, a 10% increase over last year’s lifesaver weekend when troopers made 45 arrests. Eighty percent of the arrests this year were on Saturday and Sunday. OSP offices reporting 3 or more DUII arrests were:

* Portland Area Command office – 10 DUII arrests
* Central Point Area Command office – 5 DUII arrests
* Grants Pass work site office – 5 DUII arrests
* Albany Area Command office – 4 DUII arrests
* Springfield Area Command office – 3 DUII arrests
* Bend Area Command office – 3 DUII arrests

Every year since 1991 on the weekend preceding Christmas, the International Association of Chiefs of Police have organized “National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend”, an effort to heighten public awareness and increase the apprehension of drunk and drugged drivers.

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Lincoln County Commissioner Terry Thompson: “I may have been arrested for drunk driving, but they have no evidence I was drunk. I’m a tee-totaler and I don’t abuse drugs.”

Drunk Driving No Responses »

Nov 282011

Terry Thompson, LC Commissioner

Lincoln County Commissioner Terry Thompson said he drove to Port Dock One late Friday night on a request that he give someone a ride home. He said, upon arrival, he found out the man had already gotten a ride home. Thompson said he got back in his car and began driving home. But quickly he said he had a police car’s flashing lights in his rear-view mirror. He so pulled over. Thompson said the officer admonished him for not using his turn signal, but then ordered him to step out of his car after which he put him through a DUII field sobriety test. The officer said Thompson failed it, including an eye nystagmus test. The officer charged him for driving under the influence.

Thompson said he was taken to the Lincoln County Jail where he was booked for DUII. He was given a breath test which came up zero for alcohol. However he was asked to give a urine sample, which he did. Upon his release Thompson said he traveled to North Lincoln Hospital where he had another certified urine test performed, for which he is still awaiting the results.

Thompson said he has been a tee-totaler for many years and that he does not abuse drugs although he does take one medication under prescription from a doctor that should not contribute to any intoxication behaviors. Thompson said the field sobriety test he was given was not easy for a 66 year old man and added “I defy anyone my age who can pass that test perfectly.”

Under normal procedures, those who show no test results of alcohol intoxication are routinely given either a blood or urine test; a urine test mostly for the sake of convenience. Thompson said “They shouldn’t find anything in my urine either, that’s why I got a second test in a certified hospital.”

District Attorney Rob Bovett said he had not seen any of the paperwork associated with the story, but it is standard procedure for his office that if a DUII or other important legal case involves a local elected official, or even an appointed one, the case is immediately turned over to another county’s district attorney for review and prosecution, if it is warranted.

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Traffic Crash, 101 MP163

Drunk Driving, Uncategorized, Yachats No Responses »

Jul 072011

12:10am
Traffic crash outside 3138 No. Highway 101, Yachats. Said to be a DUII male driver. Injuries. Law enforcement and paramedics on their way. Drunk male heard yelling in the background, frustrated that he can’t leave. He’s now trying to get the vehicle out of the ditch.

12:13am
Female passenger is trapped in the vehicle. She will require extracation. Law enforcement just minutes away. Car is registered to R-I Software Developers, Yachats. Business physical address is on 101 in Waldport.

12:18am
Officers on scene. Driver has fled, eastbound on Star Creek. White male adult, brown hair, gray shirt, thin build.

12:20am
Suspect located. Identification on suspect reveals his drivers license is suspended and that he was already caught driving on his suspended license and that he has a court date to appear before the judge.

12:25am
Confirmed by deputy, driver under influence of alcohol.

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Newport Police arrest DUII driver who had been earlier cited by OSP for 95 mph in a 55.

Drunk Driving No Responses »

Jul 022011

Larry Duncan, DUII, in pick-up.

Newport Police were dispatched to a report of a pick-up that ran off Highway 101 at NE 31st Saturday evening. Upon arrival, officers detected that both driver Larry Duncan of Blodgett and his female passenger were exhibiting impaired behavior. Duncan agreed to a series of physical agility tests to ascertain his level of impairment. He flunked and was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. At the jail the suspicion was changed to a drunk driving charge when he blew a .16% blood alcohol level, twice the legal limit for DUII. He was being held on $45,000 bail. He was also cited for reckless driving and reckless endangerment.

About an hour and a half earlier, Duncan had been pulled over in Yamhill County by Oregon State Police and cited for driving 95 mph in a 55 mph zone.

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