Williamson County jailers trained to draw blood in DWI cases

Williamson County jailers trained to draw blood in DWI cases

At midnight Wednesday morning, Williamson County jailers got the power to draw blood. It's been nearly two years since the county started drawing blood in felony DWI arrests. 

"We're not talking about your first offenders -- these are serious repeat offenders for DWI," said John Foster, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. 

Repeat offenders include the drunk driver who killed Justin Teague, 19, in 2003. His mother, Terri, now fights for victims' rights. 

"It infuriates me that people think it's all right to get behind the wheel and drink and drive and that there's no consequences to their actions," said Terri Teague. 

Teague supports any method of catching a drunk driver. 

Until Wednesday morning, deputies had to wait for nurses at nearby hospitals to draw a blood sample. The policy sometimes meant a long delay and inaccurate blood alcohol readings. Some hospitals in the Austin area have recently refused to perform the blood draws. 

"It's become apparent that hospitals really don't want to become involved in these types of blood draws. In respect to that, we went out and we're going to do it ourselves," said Foster. 

The county sent three of its EMT jailers through at least four weeks of training to become certified phlebotomists. The jailers -- one for each shift -- will now draw blood from suspected felony drunk drivers directly from the Williamson County Jail infirmary. 

Williamson County isn't the first jurisdiction to take emergency rooms out of the equation. Several states, including Arizona and Utah, already have officers drawing blood. 

"There's been a gradual erosion of people's rights to privacy," said Jerry Smith, criminal defense lawyer. 

Smith believes the new policy is trouble. 

"The blood tests themselves are going to come under closer scrutiny in the courtroom procedures now. (The county required) minimal training though for these (jailers) and jail settings are notoriously unsanitary," said Smith. 

For victims of drunk drivers like Teague, it's a risk worth taking. 

"I would rather see a nurse do it, but I also know that time is of an essence and it needs to be done as soon as possible," said Teague. 

The county expects to train more jailers in the future.

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Canandaigua supervisor 'fell down to the ground'

DWI hearing: Canandaigua supervisor 'fell down to the ground'

The officer who arrested Canandaigua Town Supervisor Lloyd Kinnear for driving while intoxicated testified in court this morning that when he arrived on the scene Sept. 5 he smelled alcohol on Kinnear’s breath and that when Kinnear got out of his vehicle he had trouble keeping his balance.

“He fell down to the ground and got back up,” said Ontario County Deputy Sheriff Stanley Sutton in state Supreme Court.

Kinnear was subsequently indicted on charges of felony DWI. Since Kinnear had an earlier DWI conviction within 10 years of his latest arrest, state law requires that he automatically be charged with a felony. If convicted, Kinnear would have to step down from his supervisor job.

Sutton described what happened about 11:30 p.m. Sept. 5 when he was called to the scene and found Kinnear’s Mazda off the road.

During a pretrial hearing about whether there was probable cause to make an arrest, Sutton told how Kinnear had slurred speech and how Kinnear was given various sobriety tests on the scene. 

“He swayed throughout (one) test,” Sutton said. 

Justice Thomas Van Strydonck found that there was probable cause for arrest.

The trial is slated for April 20.

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DWI luncheon salutes officers

DWI luncheon salutes officers      

WAMPSVILLE — On Wednesday, area law enforcement officers were celebrated for their 2008 DWI arrests at the 21st Annual STOP DWI luncheon at New Beginnings Church.

A number of officers from several local agencies received plaques for the amount of DWI arrests they made in their respective jurisdictions. George Cameron, a State Trooper who works out of the Sullivan Field Office, won the prestigious Karl Taylor award for his 38 DWI arrests in 2008, the most for one officer in Madison County.

“It’s an honor,” Cameron said of receiving the award named for a Madison County Deputy Sheriff who was responsible for making 950 DWI arrests during his 21 year career. Taylor passed away in March 2000 and since that year, the award has been given out to honor his legacy.

Cameron is a first-time winner of the award. In a year’s time, Cameron said that he made 28 arrests in Madison County and 10 others in Oneida and Onondaga Counties. He has been on the force for four years and thinks that holding the luncheon is a good idea.

“I think it’s important, if nothing else, to just remind us why we’re out there, making DWI arrests and the importance of it,” Cameron said.

A number of important people in the community also came out for the event, including Board of Supervisors member Paul Miller, Criminal Justice, Public Safety and Telecommunications Committee Chair Darrin Ball, Madison County Court Judge Dennis McDermott, Susan Jenkins of BRiDGES/MCCASA and James Yonai of Madison County Mental Health Department.

Madison County District Attorney Bill Gabor spoke at the event, recalling his stint as a STOP DWI prosecutor in Madison County from 1985 to 1989. He noted that there were 383 DWI arrests and no fatal DWI accidents in Madison County last year, the latter of which he called a “tremendous statistic.”

“It’s an unbelievable job that you do,” he told those in attendance.

The keynote speaker was retired Madison County STOP DWI Coordinator Doug Lippert, who reflected on his experience with the program, as well as his past career as a State Trooper and the DWI arrests he made at that time.

“DWI is definitely not an enjoyable arrest to make,” Lippert said, which is why the luncheon was started 21 years ago, to thank law enforcement for their commitment to safety in the community.

Lippert said that since 1982, when the program began, that the DWI problem has been “partially solved,” as roads in this county and throughout New York have become statistically safer to drive. He also thanked law enforcers, educators and others in the community for the progress that has been made.

“We have given a unified message to the public that DWI is not acceptable,” he said.

Steve Goodfriend has replaced Lippert as the STOP DWI coordinator, but the two stay in contact, Lippert said. He now serves as public safety commissioner of Oneida.

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Man accused of DWI had teen girls in car

RIDGE: Man accused of DWI had teen girls in car

A man was arrested early yesterday after he was caught driving drunk in Ridge with two 14-year-old girls in his car, police said.

Matthew Rayola, 28, of Port Jefferson, was charged with driving while intoxicated and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

The traffic stop leading to the arrest occurred on Route 25 and Pine Bark Road at 12:20 a.m. yesterday.

Seventh Precinct Officer Christopher Steimel noticed a Volkswagen Jetta idling on the shoulder, thought it seemed suspicious and decided to investigate, police said.

The officer found Rayola of East Broadway in Port Jefferson behind the wheel and the two girls in the car, police said.

Police did not say how the girls knew Rayola.

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Police and fire briefs for Feb. 18, 2009

Police and fire briefs for Feb. 18, 2009

Police: Pair involved in other robberies

Two men booked into Parish Prison earlier this month on armed robbery counts were accused Tuesday of being involved in a string of other incidents.

Joshua Washington, 25, 3008 72nd Ave., and Corey Henry, 17, 4966 Crown Ave., were arrested Feb. 4 after robbing a clerk at the Pizza Hut at 4763 Airline Highway, said Cpl. L’Jean McKneely, a police spokesman.

Washington was booked on three counts of armed robbery, McKneely said. Henry was booked on one count of armed robbery. 

Since then, Washington has been booked with three additional counts of armed robbery, McKneely said. Henry has been booked with nine additional counts. 

All 14 incidents occurred between Aug. 2 and Feb. 4, McKneely said. Washington and Henry committed six of the armed robberies together, he added. 

EBR authorities book one in DWI

Authorities arrested at least one person suspected of driving while intoxicated in East Baton Rouge Parish and booked him into Parish Prison between 3 p.m. Monday and 3 p.m. Tuesday, booking records show. That person and the counts against him was Jesse Lee Hatheway, 22, 12074 New Castle Ave., first-offense DWI and failure to maintain control. 

Compiled from staff reports. To talk to a crime reporter at The Advocate, call (225) 388-0369.

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Police notes Feb. 18

Police notes Feb. 18

The Santa Fe Police Department is investigating the following reports:

*Police arrested Samuel Torres, no age or address provided, on Sunday and charged him with burglary.

*A 42-inch LCD television was stolen Monday from a residence in the 1700 block of Purple Aster. 

*Two unidentified men stole a 30-pack of Budweiser beer from Smith's, 2110 Pacheco St., on Tuesday. When a store manager attempted to stop the men, one of them pulled a knife on him. The men fled in a white Ford F-150 pickup. 

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department is investigating the following reports: 

*A resident of Chalan Road reported sending $4,285 to an address in Dallas in December to purchase a vehicle from eBay. The resident hasn't heard back from the person since and has not received the car. 

*Deputies arrested Nicole Sena, 37, address unavailable, on Monday and charged her with battery on a health care provider after she struck a paramedic in the face.

*Deputies arrested Joseph Gonzales, 19, address unavailable, on Monday and charged him with battery on a household member. 

The New Mexico State Police Department is investigating the following reports: 

*Officers arrested Jessica James, 22, of Española on Sunday and charged her with aggravated DWI and careless driving. James' breath-alcohol content was .22, nearly three times the driving limit

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Two Cents

Two Cents

About the cuts for the county to save money, let's start with the mileage for the county legislators and their health insurance because they are only part-time people. 
 
Was the police officer who was involved in the motorcycle chase accident wearing a seatbelt?

It appears DA Jon Budelmann's mission is to subject Cayuga County to low standards and financial distress (Roy Brown, Indians, etc.). Family and friends are exempt while all others are held to the highest extent of the law as he sees fit.

I agree that names should be published. Like was said, names are published for minor stuff (DWI, unpaid taxes, etc.) which is baloney; somebody has names, regardless of the FOI that the newspaper put in.

Let's find out who the DPW thieves are, and let's get rid of them. Get rid of the head of the DPW, he makes a lot more money than he should, along with some of the other workers.

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