New Mexico man indicted for 10th DWI arrest

Las Cruces, NM

A Summary: At 4:30 PM, a homeless man with 9 previous DWI arrests, still drunk from the night before, was pulled over while acting as the designated driver for his passenger, a man the cop (who once arrested a man with 23 prior DWIs) previously had arrested twice for DWI.

A homeless man was indicted Thursday after his 10th DWI arrest, according to court records.

The officer who arrested him said it is not the first time he has seen a 10-time offender.

Jose A. Gonzalez, 54, who once listed an address in La Mesa, N.M., was pulled over Jan. 5 for speeding in Vado, said arresting officer New Mexico State Police Patrolman Diego Herrera. Herrera said when he turned his siren on, he noticed Gonzalez attempt to turn away and almost hit a light pole. When Herrera walked up to the car he said he smelled alcohol and noticed several beer cans in the car. Herrera said when he asked Gonzalez to step out of the vehicle, he could not stand on his own and had to use the car to balance himself.

"What I remember the most about this arrest is that it was 4:30 in the afternoon and he said he was hung over from the night before," Herrera said. "I recognized the passenger. I had arrested him twice before for DWI."

Gonzalez refused a breath alcohol or blood test and was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, Herrera said. More >>

Driver, 83, who struck 4, faces trial in DUI case

Ocala, FL

If an 83 year-old man in a wheelchair is wearing it, the proper term is "red sweat suit," not "red jogging suit."

An 83-year-old man, who on Tuesday injured four people when he drove through a picnic area at a church, was in court Thursday in reference to a drunken-driving case.

Nicholas Riscili was arrested by a Belleview police officer in November for being more than twice the legal drinking limit. Following his Nov. 26 arrest on a charge of driving under the influence, he was issued a 30-day permit to drive for business purposes only.

According to Marion County Jail records, Riscili's November arrest was his third since August 2002, and includes a refusal to submit to a breath test.

Riscili's attorney, Mark D. Shelnutt, said Thursday that his client's permit expired Tuesday, the day of the crash.

With his daughter assisting him in his wheelchair, Riscili, dressed in a red jogging suit, was brought in front of County Judge John Futch, who set a trial date of Jan. 28. Shelnutt said Riscili has 10 days to file an administrative appeal.

In the meantime, Shelnutt said, Riscili's daughter is "down here to try and help us through this whole thing."

"For right now, he's not allowed to drive," Shelnutt said. More >>

Man charged with driving under the influence after hitting freight train

Who rammed whom?


Bloomington, IN

A man was charged with driving under the influence after his pickup truck rammed a freight train Saturday afternoon on Bloomington’s west side, police said.

Joel Beland, 30, of Heyworth was arrested after allegedly hitting the eastbound train at a crossing near Lee and Water streets, said Bloomington Police Lt. Pete Avery. Norfolk Southern Railroad officials called police at 1:55 p.m.

Beland was apparently trying to go over the crossing in his Chevrolet pickup when he made contact with the train, police said. Beland continued to drive east on an adjacent track, glancing off two stationery boxcars. He then attempted to leave the tracks but was unable to drive over a rail, Avery said, and he arrested a short time later. More >>

Dog poop footprints lead to Durham, NC an's DWI arrest

Durham, NC

Shit happens.

A Durham man accused of drunkenly driving into a yard was found after police followed a smelly trail of dog feces footprints.

Police said 18-year-old Josue Herrios-Coronilla drove his black Camaro on the wrong side of the road Wednesday and crashed into the yard of Bill McDonald, the owner of four dogs, according to a report published in The News and Observer.

When police arrived, they found crushed bushes, a damaged fence, an inoperable car - and a fresh shoe print in a pile of dog feces.

Following an odoriferous trail down the street, Durham police Sergeant Dale Gunter noticed a white van driving toward him. When he asked the passenger to step out, he noticed alcohol on the man's breath and evidence all over his shoes.

Herrios-Coronilla was charged with driving while impaired and drinking underage.

Nicotine fit leads to 2 DUIs in 2 hours (and a driving while suspended)

Columbus, OH

Finally, definitive scientific proof that cigarettes are addictive and alcohol intoxication causes impaired judgment.

A Pataskala man's nicotine fit left him with back-to-back busts on drunken-driving charges.

Kenneth L. Stamper was cited for operating a vehicle under the influence after a Pataskala officer saw his car weaving on Broad Street about 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

Stamper's blood-alcohol level tested at 0.16 percent — twice the 0.08 percent level at which a motorist is presumed intoxicated in Ohio. His car was impounded and his driver's license immediately suspended. Stamper, 49, was freed on his own recognizance, and an officer gave him a ride home.

Then, clerks at a United Dairy Farmers called police about 12:30 a.m.. A man was creating a ruckus after learning the store did not have his brand of smokes. It was Mr. Stamper — again. He had driven a second car to the convenience store. Police again charged Stamper with DUI. This time, he tested at 0.13 percent. Cops tacked on a charge of driving under an administrative license suspension. More >>

Drunk driver crashes into home

Sioux Falls, SD

Surprisingly, no reference in this article is made to the driver being "housed" or the homeowner being "crashed."

Chester Morben says he was home watching TV just before nine last night. Morben says, "We heard this loud crash and the breaking of glass and we rushed out to see what it was."
A car crashed into the side of his home. "I said, 'Darn, you know, they've finally hit the house," said Mobren.
Police say 51-year-old Tom McFarlane had been driving drunk. Officer Hector Soto said, "He did tell me that he may have dosed off and just couldn't make the turn and ended up hitting the house. More >>

No New Years DWI arrests in Vineland, New Jersey

Vineland, NJ

There also were no arrests in Vineland, NJ on New Year's for impersonating an officer sleeping in the trunk of his patrol car.

There were no drunken driving arrests in the city during the New Years holiday.

"I like to think that we got the message out," said Sgt. William Dare, supervisor of the Traffic Safety Unit. "There were several stops made by special DWI patrols and summonses were issued for other offenses but not drunken driving. I think the combination of increased patrols and the warnings we issued that drunken driving would not be tolerated kept our streets safe during the holiday."


In Millville, two drunken driving arrests were made during the New Year holiday. No other information about the arrests was available Wednesday from Millville police.

Car impounded after DWI crash, drunk driver arrested again trying to steal it back

Queens, NYC

A five-step program to demonstrate your need for a 12-step program:

1. Drive drunk, without a license, into a parked BMW and knock off a door;

2. Leave the scene of the crash;

3. Resist arrest kicking and screaming (literally);

3. Threaten to kill an arresting officer; and

4. Attempt to steal back your car from the police impound lot upn being released form jail.

Police arrested a 27-year-old Bronx man twice in December for drunk driving and for attempting to steal his impounded car from a NYPD lot.

Police said Byron Salazar-Rivera was arrested at about 5:30 p.m. on December 9 after he drove his 1996 Honda into (and knocked off the driver side door of) a parked 2000 BMW.

Salazar-Rivera refused to take a Breathalyzer test, resisted arrest by kicking and swinging his arms and legs as police tried to place him in handcuffs, authorities said. He then threatened to kill one of the officers who participated in his arrest, saying he would kill the cop as soon as he got out of jail.

Salazar-Rivera was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, unlicensed driving, leaving the scene of an accident and resisting arrest. Following his arraignment at Queens Criminal Court, Salazar-River and a friend went to the impound lot at the 115th Precinct at 92nd Street and Northern Boulevard, where they tried to steal Salazar-Rivera's car, police said. More >>

Driver arrested for DWI after sideswiping police car parked behind car on fire

Vineland, N.J.

Exactly how much attention must a driver pay to the road on New Year's Eve not to crash into a marked police car with its row of roof lights flashing, stopped behind a car in flames?

A state trooper investigating a car fire on Route 55 Monday night became a victim himself when his parked troop car was sideswiped by a driver who was allegedly intoxicated.

The accident happened at 10:37 p.m. Trooper Jeffrey Mazzoni had parked his 2006 Crown Victoria troop car behind the car which was on fire.

Harry M. Bauer, 27, driving a 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass, sideswiped the troop car.

The accident was investigated by Sgt. Edward Murphy, who charged Bauer with driving while intoxicated.

Lynnwood, WA man who was arrested after crash has 15 DUIs

Seattle, WA

Not to be outdone by Ohioan Wayne Wykof, allegedlyRobert Castle of Lynnwood, WA was arrested for drunken driving after being involved in a 3-car crash, resisting arrest, and being Tasered. It was his 15th arrest for DUI.

The State Patrol says a 51-year-old Lynnwood man who was arrested during the weekend has been arrested a total of 15 times for drunk driving and has five driving under the influence convictions.

His driver's license is already revoked.

His arrest on Saturday afternoon qualifies as a felony DUI, meaning he could face a stiffer sentence if he is convicted.

After a three-car accident, he was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of driving under the influence, resisting arrest, hit and run and eluding.

Follow up: Eastlake, OH driver accused of 13th DUI back in court

Eastlake, Ohio

They say the 13th time's a charm...or is it the 4th time in prison?

In Lake County, Wayne Wykof went ballistic inside the police station after he was arrested for drunk driving last week. It was his 13th arrest for operating a vehicle while visibly impaired.

The booking video shows that Eastlake police had to taser Wykof several times when he tried to rip his own arm open and spit blood on the police.

Today in Municipal Court in Willoughby, he walked quietly into the courtroom of Judge Harry Field.

Wayne Wykof has already been sent to prison three times for drunk driving. After his last arrest in 2004, he was given a sentence of three years beind bars.

If convicted for his 13th drunk driving offense, Wykof will be going back to a prison cell. More >>

Man Exposes Self, Shouts Vulgarities After 13th DUI Arrest

East Lake, OH

Somewhere, this man has a mother who loves him very much...

An Eastlake man is in jail following his 13th drunken driving arrest.

Wayne Wykof, 46, has had 12 DUI convictions since 1981 and has lost his license for life.

In his most recent arrest, an Eastlake police sergeant used a Taser gun on Wykof after the man started biting himself, police said.

A booking video showed Wykof continuing his belligerent behavior a few minutes later, ripping up police paperwork and then exposing himself and screaming vulgarities. More >>

Santa in G-string arrested for DUI

Hollywood, CA

Drunken G-string Santa arrested for DUI (not possession of crack with intent to distribute).

A man in a Santa hat was arrested Sunday night for investigation of drunken driving after he was spotted outside Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood wearing a wig, a red lace camisole and a purple G-string, police said.
"We are pretty sure this is not the Santa Claus," Deputy Chief Ken Garner said.
The suspect was booked into jail after his blood-alcohol level measured just above the state's legal limit of .08, police said. He was later released on $5,000 bail.
The man, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 280 pounds, also wore black leg warmers and black shoes. His car was towed to an impound yard, police said.

DWI suspect rams police cruiser

December 22, 2007 (Schenectady, NY)

A 27 year-old Albany man was arrested after crashing into the rear of a stopped police car. The officer driving the car is a 16-year police force veteran who often works as a DWI enforcement officer and suspected that the driver who hit him may have been under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The vehicle was searched and marijuana was found.

The driver was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, a felony, and aggravated DWI, DWI, driving while ability impaired by drugs, reckless driving and unlawful possession of marijuana. More >>

Woman, driving drunk, hits cop car making a DWI stop

December 20, 2007 (St. Cloud, MN)

A driver in St. Cloud, MN was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after her vehicle crashed into a police squad car that already was making a DWI stop on a different driver. The (second) driver ignored officers' orders to stop and fled the scene. The police chase that followed ended abruptly when the woman's vehicle got stuck in a snowbank. More >>