Castle Rock Criminal Defense: Police to be Better-Equipped

Our Castle Rock criminal defense attorneys have some important news for residents, and it may impact your need for a solid Castle Rock criminal defense.

The Castle Rock Police Department, in using a $200,00 grant, have amassed a wide array of new technology and equipment. That equipment includes: brand new Tasers for street officers, mountain bikes, new uniforms and patches, exercise equipment, in-car camera systems and reality-based training tools.

Castle Rock Police Chief Jack Cauley said that the expenses were intended to help improve response times, up training standards and improve relationships between the police department and the community.

Of course, these are good goals to have, and some of those measures may be helpful to that end.

But here’s what it means for you:

1. New Tasers are likely going to mean a higher level of force used in Castle Rock arrests than previously. Police will say that they are safer for use than guns. This may be true. However, it would seem that this may open itself up to issues of excessive force during arrests, and the use of Tasers when they really aren’t necessary.

2. New exercise equipment and training. Presumably, this means the officers you are going to come across will be stronger, more on point. Many in the public will see this as a good thing. Our Castle Rock criminal defense attorneys would only want to make that point that fleeing from a crime scene (which is usually not a good idea in the first place, regardless of whether you have actually done anything wrong) could result in more severe physical consequences for you once they catch up – and of course, they’ll be more likely to catch up now.

3. In-car cameras. This is a two-sided coin. On one hand, it will reduce the instances of officers fudging the facts. Videos tend not to lie. The problem for you? Videos tend not to lie. For example, in a Castle Rock DUI case, field sobriety tests are often highly subjective, and the courts rely heavily on officer observations. That’s one point that a Castle Rock DUI defense attorney can attack. However, if there is video to back up those observations, it creates greater challenges for your defense.

However, none of this means you don’t have any options following a Castle Rock arrest. Consulting with an experienced Castle Rock defense attorney as soon as possible following the incident is the best way to learn what those options are.

Denver DUI Charges Dropped, Sanctions Reduced, Against Officer

Things are looking up for a police officer who was suspected of a Denver DUI in February.

Our Denver DUI defense attorneys know that anytime someone is convicted of such an offense, they’re facing penalties that can range from probation two years in jail, not to mention costly fines. However, for a law enforcement officer or someone in a position of public trust, the consequences are often more severe. That’s because a conviction – or sometimes, just an arrest – can mean sanctions from your employer, up to and including termination and difficulty finding future employment.

Partially, this has to do with the fact that if you’re a police officer, you won’t be able to conduct patrols if you’re license is suspended. Also, though, it has to do with the reputation you are sworn to uphold. For better or worse, law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard. So when an officer is found to be on the opposite side of the law, there is often very little leniency.

However, having a solid Denver DUI attorney in your corner can make all the difference.

In this case, The Denver Post reports that the detective in question was reportedly off-duty when he crashed into a pole while on his motorcycle. The 52-year-old veteran investigator reportedly lost control of his motorcycle near Atkins Court, shortly after 1 am.

He was taken to a local emergency room, where he was interviewed by a DUI investigator, who reported he smelled an especially strong odor of alcohol on his fellow law enforcement officer. The DUI investigator implored the other detective to submit to a blood test, or risk losing his driver’s license for up to a year according to state law, the detective refused.

Afterward, when the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles held a hearing on that suspension, the DUI investigator didn’t show up. He later said he never received notice that he was supposed to appear, meaning the detective who had crashed was allowed to keep his license.

Prosecutors declined to take on the case, citing a lack of evidence.

Originally, the Civil Service Commission, which oversees personnel matters involving law enforcement, handed down a 90-day suspension for the officer’s alleged actions that night. Now, however, that sentence has been reduced to two weeks.

The Civil Service Hearing Officer was quoted as saying that while the officer was likely somewhat impaired, there simply wasn’t enough evidence to show that he met the legal definition of driving under the influence.

Denver Marijuana DUI Laws Debated

Lawmakers are mulling over a Denver marijuana DUI statutes might require some revisions.

Our Denver marijuana DUI defense attorneys are not in favor of any measure that impedes on the right of patients to use marijuana for medical ailments.

According to The Associated Press, a bill is being debated that would render someone impaired if they test positive for more than 5 nanograms of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. A nanogram is one-billionth of a gram.

However, there is argument whether that is an accurate measurement of whether someone is too high to drive.

Under the law as it is now, the state says drivers can’t be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but it doesn’t set a limit for how much THC can legally be in a person’s system. The problem, as identified by a number of medical marijuana activists, is that impairment can’t be accurately measured by their THC levels. That means that a patient who takes regular doses of the drug could build up a high THC level, and yet be perfectly sober.

Republican sponsors of this bill say a standard needs to be set so that law enforcement has some clear guidelines. They say that smoking marijuana is a privilege, and users shouldn’t be allowed to endanger others.

Those who oppose the measure aren’t saying that it should be Ok to drive high. But the proposed measurement of impairment won’t be fair. They also say it’s no different than ingesting any other prescription drug. Yet there is no blood test ordered for someone who has been prescribed Oxycodone or Prozac.

The issue has become the center of controversy for a number of state committees, where members haven’t been able to come to an agreement.

In Nevada and Ohio, there is a 2 nanogram limit for marijuana. In Pennsylvania, it’s 5 nanograms. In 12 other states, there is a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to marijuana.

Legislators say the bill could cost more than $1 million to implement statewide.

Denver Police Officer Swears at Cop During DUI Arrest

A Denver police officer’s behavior, all caught on tape, is being used by the city’s independent monitor as example as to why more discipline is needed in the police department, according to a recent Coloradoan.com article. The officer had a blood alcohol content three times higher than the legal limit when he crashed his vehicle, he yelled obscenities at officers and demanded special treatment since he was an officer of the law.

According to Silverthorne Police Department arrest records, the off-duty officer drove his vehicle off the road the evening of February 17, 2010. When officers approached him, he claimed he was talking on his cell phone when he veered off the road. Officers noticed his slurred speech, watery and pink eyes and the smell of alcohol. The officer admitted he had a gun in his vehicle, which the police confiscated. The officer identified himself as a police officer and asked the responding officers to “help out a fellow officer” and take him home.

One of the responding officers recorded the arrest on her iPhone. On audio recordings obtained by a local news station, the officer was heard screaming obscenities at police officers and asking for special treatment, telling the officers “you suck” and yelling other expletives. He ranted for nearly 40 minutes while officers processed paperwork and took him to a local medical center for blood alcohol tests.

The officer pleaded guilty to DUI and was sentenced to 48 hours of community service, a year of probation and 30 days’ electronic monitoring. He had no prior criminal record and was previously awarded a Medal of Valor from the Denver Police Department. The city independent monitor felt that the officer should have received additional disciplinary action for attempting to use his position to avoid facing charges.

The Colorado criminal defense attorney in this case undoubtedly prepared a solid defense that basically got the officer off with a hard slap on the wrist, but the officer had a few things in his favor. No one was injured or killed in the crash. It was his first offense. He had no prior criminal record. He was an officer of the law with a stellar work record until he made the unwise decision to drink and drive. All of these factors made his criminal defense attorney job that much easier.

Suspended Sentence Given to Notre Dame Receiver in a DUI Case

Michael Floyd, a Notre Dame wide receiver was given a suspended sentence and probation for a year for driving under the influence of alcohol. The plea in Indiana included installing an ignition lock device for six months after 90 day suspension of his driver’s license. The Colorado law against DUI may preclude a deal such as this but if a person in Colorado wants to reduce the penalty for their DUI charge they must hire a Colorado criminal defense attorney.

This must be done quickly as efforts to reduce any penalties must begin immediately. For instance, a first time offender may take an alcohol treatment program in lieu of the jail sentence. The Colorado criminal defense attorney has made arrangements like this for clients in the past and they can do that for you. There are many ways to attack the state’s case against you and your attorney will be doing just that. They will check the status of the breathalyzer used. If blood was taken, its storage or labeling may have been handled incorrectly. People make mistakes and the Colorado criminal defense attorney’s experience tells him what the most common mistakes are. Your attorney knows how to the use these mistakes to discredit the case against you.

The prosecutor may be induced to offer a deal to lessen the punishment, if you agree to certain conditions. Your Colorado criminal defense attorney will advise you as to the chances you may have at a full acquittal. If his experience tells him the deal should be accepted he will give you all the reasons he believes that this is the best road to take. They are there to serve you to the best of their ability and this includes giving you the cold, hard facts that will lead to the best decision. Anyone that is charged with a DUI will need the help of a Colorado criminal defense attorney, if they are to lessen the impact of this charge on their life.