DUI Dishonor Roll

226 Children died in drunk driving accidents in 2011

The New Year started out badly for Brenda L Sanchez, age 30, and Sylwester Malejczyk, age 22, both arrested for Driving Under the Influence on January 1st (early morning hours of course).

Particularly bad for Ms. Sanchez, since the charges also include child endangerment while under the influence. 

Justin Timmons, age 23, attracted attention by speeding, 50 in a 35 MPH zone, also in the wee hours of the morning when traffic is light -- probably made even lighter by the "polar vortex."

 

Welcome 2014: Three DUIs down, another 125 or so to go.

DUI DIshonor Roll

Over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for DUI in 2010

The last two (alleged) drunk drivers of 2013, Jocelyn N Gozdowski age 22 and Gergory T Fitzpatrick, age 37, are fairly typical as DUI arrests go, but surprising not-so-typical since they close out the calender year bringing the total number of arrests to 127, down from 148 in 2012, or a drop of 15%. 

Could be the word has gotten out and people think twice about drunk driving through Amherst; or overworked APD didn't have the people power to target drunk drivers.   So maybe we just got lucky, unlike Daniel Haley. 

For instance our "typical" DUI, Mr. Fitzpatrick, was bagged Saturday night just after the sold out Mullins Center UMass basketball game ended.  He was pulled over on Triangle/Kellogg Streets only a mile or so from the facility.  How many drivers were on Amherst roads at that moment? 

How many innocent citizens going about their daily business without a care in the world?  Until suddenly you see those headlights bearing down, head on ...

DUI Dishonor Roll

About one-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of drunk driving are repeat offenders

Amherst Police arrested three drivers last week for Driving Under the Influence, or about the average number. And none of them were Umass students. But all of them are old enough to know better.

Lee Comstock, age 27, was pulled over in the heart of downtown Amherst by a Umass officer, so let's hope when he goes to trial the Judge doesn't simply throw it out because it was an officer outside his normal jurisdiction.

Just this past Friday an Amherst police officer was almost hit by an erratic driver on RT9 Hadley, so he pulled her over, but then waited for Hadley PD to arrive to make the arrest.

Another 27-year-old male, Mathew Haramut, was also pulled over very close to Amherst town center and arrested for DUI.  Notice it was his second offense, so you can probably guess why he was "unlicensed".  

And Meghan Keane, age 42, was arrested late Sunday night for driving under the influence with an an open container of said influencer in the vehicle.  She also drew attention to herself by crashing the vehicle.

DUI Dishonor Roll

Yes it's hard to top the slaughter caused by an alleged drunk driver over the weekend in Easthampton, but either of these two Amherst DUI arrests -- Gino A Monsini and Dean Nemroff both age 22 --  could have been a comparable incident.

There but for the grace of God ...

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DUI Dishonor Role

Since it's only his first offense, and he's a young UMass student, safe bet Daniel Huyett, age 21, will get the usual treatment at District Court:  one year probation, 45 day loss of license, take an alcohol training course at UMass and faithfully promise to behave.

 Note how many officers are tied up on a DUI incident

After hearing a few DUI cases adjudicated and reading about another prominent one in this morning's Daily Hampshire Gazette, I've come to the conclusion that if it's your 1st offense you really have to kill someone in order to suffer any serious legal consequences.

Although for Mr. Huyett, a legal studies major at UMass, this brush with the law will not make for good resume material. 

Staggering DUI Disposition

 Daniel Dodman crash Triangle Street 6/20/13 Not far from Amherst High School

Many of you will remember Daniel S. Dodman my June 20 DUI Dishonor Role winner.  He's the kid who drove his Volvo off busy Triangle Street after sideswiping a telephone pole and then tried to surf a row of boulders.  He abandoned his damaged vehicle and sprinted north. 

Once captured he failed every aspect of the FSTs and blew a .16 BAC -- twice the legal limit.

The crash drew the immediate attention of Amherst police of course, but also tied up AFD since the damaged vehicle was leaking hazardous fluids. 

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Tuesday Judge John Payne heard pretty much an admission of guilt and plea for mercy from Dodman and his attorney.  His mother was also in court, and the Judge heard about his successful older siblings.   A DUI conviction on his record would dramatically reduce the likelihood of his ever matching their success in life.

   Disturbing DUI

The prosecution was not overly moved, citing his fleeing the scene, struggling with police and also mentioned  how he emptied a toilet with his bare hands when finally put in a cell, weirding out one of the officers.

UMass suspended Dodman for one year but he will restart his senior year this coming spring.  And he is getting professional help from an Amherst therapist.  

The Judge was convinced (by the defense).  Out of the six counts filed against him he dismissed three (Resisting Arrest, Leaving Scene of Accident, Marked Lanes Violation) and the most important ones -- DUI and Negligent Operation -- he continued for a year without a finding.

He was also found  "responsible" for "open container of alcohol" (whisky) in an automobile, but the charge was simply filed for one year.

Dodman will lose his drivers license for 45 days, be on probation for a year, pay court costs and continue with his therapy.

Maybe he has learned a harsh lesson.  Maybe.  If not, the next time he could die -- or worse, one of those innocent teen-age bystanders you see below.

 

Daniel Dodman's rolling weapon disarmed (note teenagers in close proximity)

DUI Dishonor Roll

One out of every five college students has admitted to drunk driving

Melissa Morrissey, age 22, must have thought she was trying out for a role in Fast & Furious.  Yeah, vodka will do that.  

And it was precisely her dangerous driving that garnered the attention of high ranking UMPD officer Lt. Jessica Moore.  Ms. Morrissey ignored those hard to ignore flashing blue lights and continued to recklessly retreat from the law, even ignoring a spotlight.

When finally blocked in and forced to stop by another marked cruiser Morrissey put up a fight, as did the other occupant of her scud missile, Anthony Haight, age 23.  

   Just another DUI arrest

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Tuesday both Perps pled "not guilty" and had their cases continued.  

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Also in District Court on Tuesday for a DUI offense, Arthur Copstein pled innocent and told the Judge he would hire an attorney (considering the car he was driving, no wonder), for a January 16 pre trial hearing.

   APD make DUI arrest

DUI Dishonor Roll

Perhaps it's a bit surprising Amherst Police bagged only two DUI drivers over the Halloween weekend considering all the intoxicated college aged youth AFD ended up transporting to Cooley Dickinson Hospital and how busy APD was otherwise with Party Houses all over town.

Of course when a Party House or fight on the street attracts a half dozen police cars, that's a fair amount of time those vehicles are not on the prowl or ensconced in a secure/hidden location observing routine traffic watching for killers on the road. 

Making simple mistakes like running a stop sign will of course garner the attention of a patrol car -- especially at 2:33 AM.  And Rebecca L. Tobey, age 23,  should know that since this was her second offense.

In Court on 10/30 Judge John Payne Jr. appointed Ms. Tobey a public defender and continued the trial until January 6. 

Doing 68 in a 35 MPH zone at 2:13 AM will also garner undivided attention.  Newman M. Galati, age 21, flunked his FSTs and was arrested.  Although not his second offense for DUI, Mr. Galati did manage to get arrested at a Party House last year (where residents were abusive to APD).

Arraigned on Monday morning before Judge Payne, Mr. Galati had a plea of "not guilty" entered in his behalf, the Judge then assigned him a court appointed attorney, freed him on his own recognizance to return for trial on December 10.

DUI Dishonor Roll

 

There but for the grace of God (and APD)

Although it was a relatively quiet weekend for rowdy off campus parties -- what appears to be a trend this fall -- the negative effects of too much alcohol still continues to reverberate around our little "college town."  Consider this just the first of a two part report.

Amherst police arrested two young men -- both age 20 -- within hours of each other late Saturday night/early Sunday morning for Driving Under the Influence.  The most egregious, Miguel T. Ellis, drew attention to himself by driving half the length of Triangle Street on the WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD.  And it was not all that late at night (11:58 PM).

Mr. Ellis's dangerous weapon  is escorted off Triangle Street by Ernie's Towing

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And then we have the wrath of David Kahn:

DUI Dishonor Roll

 

AFD demonstrates extrication at their recent open house

Surprisingly only two DUIs bagged over the weekend in Amherst by APD. 

I say surprising because of all the other alcohol related mayhem that occured.  But the two certainly fit the classic formula:  early in the morning incidents where the drivers impairment was fairly obvious to police.

In the case of Gjergji Progri, age 21, because he hit two other cars on the main drag through UMass/Amherst -- North Pleasant and Mass Ave -- at 3:09 AM early Saturday morning; and Michela Luchetti, age 19, driving at 2:32 AM early Sunday morning on another highly traveled road -- University Drive -- without headlights.

I heard the female officer immediately call for backup even before stopping Luchetti, because according to the officer she was "all over the road."

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday both defendants pled "not guilty" and had their cases continued until next month.  Ms. Luchetti left the courtroom quickly with her exceedingly unhappy looking mother by her side.

DUI Dishonor Roll

 On average, one in three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime

Just to show there is a cultural connection between rowdy Party Houses, Blarney Blowouts, Hobart Hoedowns and drunk drivers, I give you Joseph J. Buckley, age 23, a UMass student from Billerica, Massachusetts.

 

Joe Buckley

Now Joe was arrested by APD at 2:00 AM, early Friday morning after quenching his "Thirsty Thursday" with too much alcohol and then getting behind the wheel of a car.  He was pulled over on Lincoln Avenue, near UMass.

At the May, 2010 Hobart Hoedown Joseph Buckley was arrested for assault on an officer after throwing beer bottles at police.  Obviously UMass was pretty lenient on him as he is still a student three years later, and still being arrested by Amherst police. 

Justice For Danny?

 Roadside memorial for Daniel Haley, age 24, Rt. 116 Amherst/Hadley border

Every time somebody tells me to just "wait until there's a tragedy" so town and state officials will get deadly serious and do something about the prevalence of alcohol induced mayhem in our Happy Valley, I cringe.  

In fact, I get downright angry. 

Because I know that tragedy has already occurred, snatching from friends and family a promising young life just starting to hit stride.

Daniel Haley, age 24,  was only weeks away from graduating UMass/Amherst, an endeavor he worked hard to accomplish -- covering both the study requirements of a chemical engineering major as well as working to cover the cost of higher education. 

He was killed by Brittini Benton of Sunderland, also age 24, who was driving the wrong way on Rt 116 in Hadley, while under the influence of alcohol.  A lot of it! (BAC of 0.179, more than twice the legal limit).

A second offense no less.

But Ms. Benton, unlike Daniel Haley, will continue to age.  Only now she will do it from the cramped confines of a prison cell.  For the next five to seven years.

I asked a family member, great uncle Mike Haley, if he was satisfied with the outcome of the trial and the punishment recently meted out to Ms. Benton by our justice system.

Mr. Haley said the sentencing had brought "some form of closure" but obviously it was a "very hard day for the family."  Mike Haley and  Daniel's cousin -- who was more like a sister -- read prepared statements and the assistant DA read the statement of Daniel Haley's heartbroken mother.

The sentencing had been delayed three months so Ms. Benton, who became pregnant after the accident, could have her child.

The "system" allowed her back on the road only seven month after the first DUI.  The system delayed sentencing for over three months so she could bring a child into the world.

And not all that many years from now, the system will allow Brittini Benton back into a our free society; and who knows, maybe even allow her to drive a car again.

 "I only wish Danny had that opportunity," said Mike Haley somberly.

And if Massachusetts made interlock ignition switches mandatory after the FIRST offense for DUI, that alone would have saved him.  

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Time to close the loopholes

DUI Dishonor Roll

 In Massachusetts, driving fatalities for those under 21 rose 7.1% in 2011

Unfortunately things -- at least all thing things concerning alcohol -- returned to "normal" over the weekend with a high volume of AFD transports to the Cooley Dickinson Hospital for ETOH and three APD arrests for drunk driving.

Scary thing is in two of these cases the perps (Katelyn Pascale, age 21 and Colin Hurd, age 22) drew police attention by crashing their vehicles, and in both instances the mishap areas were active party house scenes with a decent volume of foot traffic within close proximity.

. 

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For Phaly Lach , age 49, a second offense.  Three strikes and you're out.

DUI Dishonor Role

So once again last weekend in spite of a more than a dozen arrests for alcohol related offenses -- all of them UMass student related -- only one Driving Under the Influence arrest.

And you can tell William J. Sullivan, age 22, also a UMass students, is a rookie since he allowed the Portable Breath Test, which he flunked.