Sobriety test ‘ruins’ pre-med student’s life

A man was cited for multiple charges after driving under the influence on Sept. 27.

A patrolling officer saw a car traveling north on Park Avenue suddenly stop at the Park Avenue and First Street intersection. According to the police, the car then turned west onto First Street without a turn signal, driving over a curb in the process. Police stopped the vehicle.

As the officer approached the car, he noticed the driver had bloodshot, watery eyes and smelled strongly of intoxicants. The officer asked him for his license, and the man said that he left it at home.

The officer reported that when the man spoke, the smell of intoxicants was even stronger. The officer asked the man if he had been drinking and he said, “”Yes, earlier.”” The officer told the man to step out of the car, which he did in a very slow, unsteady manner. The man told the officer that he was going to a friend’s house and hadn’t had anything to drink for a couple of hours. He then began to plead with the officer, saying, “”Officer, please. You don’t want to do this. I didn’t have that much to drink. C’mon sir, please, I’m pre-med. You’re gonna ruin my life.”” While saying all of this, the man was swaying in place.

The officer began to conduct the pre-test interview. The man was cooperative at first, but became defensive, refusing to answer questions and requesting his attorney. The officer told the man that these were just pre-test questions and they needed to be asked prior to the field sobriety Tests. The man told the officer he would not be “”doing any tests.””

Because he refused the field sobriety tests, the man was taken to the University of Arizona Police Department headquarters for further testing. The man was read his Miranda rights and asked if he would answer questions, to which he responded, “”Yes, sir.”” When police began to ask him questions, he sat in silence, refusing to answer. He was asked if he was invoking his right to silence and he said, “”Yes.””

The officer then asked the man if he would take a breathalyzer test, to which he did not respond. The officer told him that if he did not respond the second time, it would be considered a refusal. The man did not respond. The officer then requested and received a warrant to obtain the man’s blood to determine his blood alcohol content. At approximately 5:08 a.m., blood was drawn from the man.

The man was then transported to Pima County Jail where he was booked on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, minor operating vehicle with liquor in body, minor in possession of alcohol, no license in possession and failure to use turn signal.

Woman covered in vomit cited

Three students were cited for minor in possession on Sept. 27.

A patrolling officer noticed a car with the passenger door open parked along First Street. There appeared to be no one in the car. As the officer approached the car, he noticed a woman lying in the rear seat, covered in vomit. There were two men sitting on a curb near the car.

The officer identified the subjects and noticed that the two men had bloodshot, watery eyes and smelled of intoxicants. The woman refused medical attention, but smelled very strongly of intoxicants and had difficulty getting out of the car. She also made a number of attempts to vomit during her interaction with the officer. She was very confused, disoriented and had slurred speech.

All three were cited and released for MIP and referred to the Dean of Students Office.

Woman doesn’t want ‘to go to court again’

A woman was cited and released for MIP on Sept. 27 after a bottle fell out of her purse.

Police made contact with a woman near Coronado Residence Hall. She was sitting on a wall by the main entrance. She placed her hand out as if to hold herself up, but fell to the ground. When she fell, her purse hit the ground and a 12-ounce bottle of Smirnoff Ice Strawberry rolled out.

The woman told officers that she “”was drinking at a frat. I was just holding that alcohol for my friend.”” The woman refused medical treatment and did not appear to be injured from her fall. She then told officers, “”This is my second MIP. I don’t want to go to court again.””

The woman was cited and released for MIP in body and MIP of spirituous liquor. She was also referred to the Dean of Students Office.

Police seize paraphernalia, cite student

Police responded to a call about marijuana in the Arizona-Sonora Residence Hall on Sept. 27.

Upon arrival, reports said the officer smelled a strong odor of marijuana in the hallway. The officer knocked on the door of the room where the smell was coming from, and a man opened the door. There were approximately eight other people in the room.

The officer told the other people to go sit in the hallway. He asked the man if he knew why the officer was there, and he said because he smelled beer. The officer told the man that he smelled marijuana, and the student said, “”There is a little in the room.”” The officer then asked him to clarify, and he said, “”Marijuana.””

The man consented to a room search by the officer. He then said, “”I’ll just give you what I have.”” He told the officer that he had purchased “”about an ounce”” and there was only a little left in the room. The man admitted to smoking “”a joint,”” but refused to say who else had smoked. The man then retrieved a black shoe box, which contained a small amount of marijuana and Zig Zag rolling papers. The officer still searched the room and found nothing else.

The man was cited and released for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also reported to the Dean of Students Office.