Westminster, CO - As any police officer knows, most DUI stops go through a predictable process. The driver had already shown signs of impairment due to swerving and unusual driving. He or she then slurs, claims to have had “a couple of beers," may even drop the paperwork, and the process goes on.
A driver in Westminster, Colorado, went through a similar DUI stop process and left a doozy of information for the end as he was getting arrested – kids in the trunk.
The Westminster Police Department posted the bodycam footage of the DUI arrest to Facebook.
The footage shows the officer approach the vehicle and ask the driver why he was getting stopped. To which the driver replied he was “acting like an idiot.”
Although the video was edited for Facebook, it seemed the driver was purposely driving erratically, perhaps for personal enjoyment or similar. After the driver told the officer he was “acting like an idiot”, the officer responded, “Yeah, huge in that parking lot. You’re lucky you didn’t hit somebody.”
The video then cuts to the officer questioning the suspect about alcohol.
“Are you sure you haven’t drunk any alcohol, because [I've] got a smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle right now,” the officer said.
The driver blamed the odor on “Zyns”, a commonly consumed Swedish nicotine pouch, and agreed to take field sobriety tests. At some point during the field tests, the driver then changed his mind and refused further testing.
“You don’t want to complete these? Alright, put your hands behind your back,” the officer said.
After the driver was placed in handcuffs, it was apparent from the Facebook bodycam footage that the suspect informed the arresting officer about the surprise in the trunk.
“So you have three kids hiding in the trunk?” the officer asked.
“Yes," replied the suspect.
“You didn’t think that’d be a good idea to say something before?” the officer asked.
Officers approached the rear of the vehicle and opened the trunk, revealing three minors cramped inside. The children's ages or whether they were the driver's children were not immediately available.
“We'd like to point out that it was also freezing temperatures outside during this stop. Luckily, the kids were unharmed,” according to a statement from the Westminster Police Department statement.
It was also reported that several bottles of alcohol were recovered inside the vehicle. The quantity or type was not mentioned.
Child Protective Services was contacted, and the children were later released to family members.
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
-----------------------------
Writer Eddie Molina is a veteran and has over 25 years of combined LEO/military service. He owns and operates the LEO apparel and accessory company www.BuyHeroStuff.com
A driver in Westminster, Colorado, went through a similar DUI stop process and left a doozy of information for the end as he was getting arrested – kids in the trunk.
The Westminster Police Department posted the bodycam footage of the DUI arrest to Facebook.
The footage shows the officer approach the vehicle and ask the driver why he was getting stopped. To which the driver replied he was “acting like an idiot.”
Although the video was edited for Facebook, it seemed the driver was purposely driving erratically, perhaps for personal enjoyment or similar. After the driver told the officer he was “acting like an idiot”, the officer responded, “Yeah, huge in that parking lot. You’re lucky you didn’t hit somebody.”
The video then cuts to the officer questioning the suspect about alcohol.
“Are you sure you haven’t drunk any alcohol, because [I've] got a smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle right now,” the officer said.
The driver blamed the odor on “Zyns”, a commonly consumed Swedish nicotine pouch, and agreed to take field sobriety tests. At some point during the field tests, the driver then changed his mind and refused further testing.
“You don’t want to complete these? Alright, put your hands behind your back,” the officer said.
After the driver was placed in handcuffs, it was apparent from the Facebook bodycam footage that the suspect informed the arresting officer about the surprise in the trunk.
“So you have three kids hiding in the trunk?” the officer asked.
“Yes," replied the suspect.
“You didn’t think that’d be a good idea to say something before?” the officer asked.
Officers approached the rear of the vehicle and opened the trunk, revealing three minors cramped inside. The children's ages or whether they were the driver's children were not immediately available.
“We'd like to point out that it was also freezing temperatures outside during this stop. Luckily, the kids were unharmed,” according to a statement from the Westminster Police Department statement.
It was also reported that several bottles of alcohol were recovered inside the vehicle. The quantity or type was not mentioned.
Child Protective Services was contacted, and the children were later released to family members.
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
-----------------------------
Writer Eddie Molina is a veteran and has over 25 years of combined LEO/military service. He owns and operates the LEO apparel and accessory company www.BuyHeroStuff.com
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments