Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates

Salt Lake City – Ogden – Lehi

Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates

Salt Lake City – Ogden – Lehi

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Utah trooper may have unjustly made DUI arrests

On Behalf of | Nov 28, 2013 | DUI

A Utah Highway Patrol trooper was honored as trooper of the year in 2007 based upon her DUI arrest record. That record has recently been called into question. It turns out that the trooper may have unjustifiably arrested numerous drivers for DUI without any credible proof they were impaired.

The trooper made nearly 750 DUI arrests in her five-year career. The department fired her from her position this past January when information surfaced suggesting that she arrested drivers she should not have arrested. In one case, the driver insisted she had not been drinking, but the trooper arrested her in any event. Blood analysis later proved the woman was telling the truth, and the charges were dropped.

A local media outlet recently released a video of the Utah trooper administering a field sobriety test, which reports say did not indicate the driver was impaired. She arrested the man for DUI anyway. A review of video of the trooper’s stops allegedly reveals that DUI arrests were made either off camera or only partially in the camera’s line of sight. In addition, an internal letter has surfaced from a sergeant expressing concerns to his superior about the trooper’s DUI arrests after he reviewed them.

If the allegations against the trooper are true, every DUI arrest she made may come into question. Many people wonder why our system of justice insists that those accused of crimes are innocent until proved guilty in a court of law. Actions by law enforcement officials such as those contained in the allegations against this trooper are part of the reason. No one should ever have to suffer any criminal consequence without proof beyond a reasonable doubt he or she actually committed the crime for which charges were filed.

Source: fox13now.com, Attorney releases new video, claims former UHP trooper wrongfully arrested drivers for DUI, Nineveh Dinha, Nov. 20, 2013

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