Speeding on Speedway
A man was arrested on charges of driving under the influence on March 22 after speeding on Speedway Boulevard.
A University of Arizona Police Department officer was driving behind a 1992 Maroon Lincoln Town Car on Speedway Boulevard when the vehicle accelerated, driving between two lanes at 45 mph in a 35 mph zone. The man in the car drove over a curb and parked in two lanes at the Boston Market parking lot where he was pulled over at approximately 3:40 a.m.
When the officer approached the driver, he could smell alcohol on the man’s breath. The officer reported the driver’s eyes were red, watery and bloodshot, and his speech was slurred and slow. The driver told the officer he had been drinking earlier in the evening and was unable to produce his driver’s license because it was suspended. The officer had the driver get out of his vehicle and performed a series of tests.
The man was arrested for driving under the influence to the slightest degree and taken to the UAPD station. He took a Breathalyzer test at the station and samples had a blood-alcohol content of .182 and .191. He was charged with a DUI with BAC over .08, an extreme DUI with BAC over .15, and civilly cited for failure to maintain lane. Authorities impounded his vehicle and any further checks on the man could result in more charges if necessary.
Sock-napping Tourists
The UA Bookstore called UAPD on March 26 around 4:52 p.m. regarding two non-UA affiliated male shoplifters.
The shoplifters had purchased two items before returning to the shopping area, where each put a pair of socks into their bags and attempted to leave the store without paying. They were stopped by the UA Bookstore loss prevention team. The men claimed to be on spring break, visiting Tucson from Colorado.
One of the suspects told a UAPD officer that he was shopping with some friends and decided to buy a shirt. Once the shirt was purchased, he placed a pair of socks bearing the UA “A” logo into the same bag as the shirt he purchased while waiting for his friends, who were still shopping. He said the UA seemed to have a lot of money, and he didn’t think the loss of a pair of socks would be a big deal to the university. The officer explained to the individual that by placing the socks in the bag, he had shoplifted.
The other individual involved, a 17 year-old, said he was visiting Tucson and staying in a hotel near campus. He was shopping in the bookstore and decided to buy two shirts, but went back to the shopping area and noticed a pair of socks on sale, which he placed in the same bag containing the purchased shirts. When he was caught, he continuously apologized and said he and his friends were part of a high school baseball team competing in a tournament.
The first suspect UA officers spoke to was cited and released on charges of shoplifting and escorted out of the bookstore by security. The 17 year-old was given a Juvenile Paper Referral for shoplifting. Authorities contacted both individuals’ parents, who then came to pick up their children. Copies of surveillance videos and receipts were placed into evidence.