Recent Blog Posts in 2010

Police are saying that a man from Apache Junction tried to kill himself in the back of a police vehicle by wrapping a seat belt around his neck. On Thursday night, the man was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving said Mesa officers.

Police report that they received a call about a drugged driver in a black Corvette who allegedly ran a red light and was driving into oncoming traffic near Southern Avenue.  Officers later found the car on the 900 block of South 97^th Way.

According to police, when they pulled over 33-year-old Keith Thompson he had watery eyes and the scent of alcohol on his breath.  Thompson told police he had consumed alcohol and should not have been driving. When police asked him to take this a variety test he admitted that he was impaired by alcohol and was operating on a suspended license.

After Thompson was arrested, officers were forced to restrain him because he attempted to hang himself several times in the back of the police car with a seatbelt that he had wrapped around his neck.

He was later taken to Arizona Regional Medical Center at his request and booked on driving under the influence charges.

Charged with DUI?  Contact us to speak with a Phoenix DUI lawyer!

This week Saturday, a 31-year-old woman from Bellevue was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. Ironically, her arrest occurred just hours before she was supposed to walk down the aisle said the Washington State patrol.

Police stopped the woman just after 6 AM when a deputy spotted her weaving in and out of her lane and speeding at more than 90 mph on northbound Interstate 405 near Northeast Eighth Street.  When pulled over, the woman told the deputy that she was driving home from her bachelorette party and was getting married that afternoon.

She admitted that she had been arrested for driving under the influence once before and was familiar with the DUI traffic stop routine.  Police took her blood alcohol level which was measured in at .146, twice the legal limit in the state of Washington.

The officer presiding over the case said the woman will face charges in King County District Court.

Were you charged with DUI?  Get the legal help you need by contacting the Knowles Law Firm and discussing your case with a Phoenix DUI attorney.

Last week Thursday morning, it is reported that a serious crash occurred in Phoenix on Interstate 10. The accident led to a huge backup for drivers who are traveling on the highway and occurred on westbound I- 10 at 79th Ave. at around 6:30 AM.

According to law-enforcement officials, lanes were blocked and numerous vehicles were stopped parked along the freeway.  The Arizona Department of Transportation said that westbound I-10 reopened around 10:15 AM after a serious accident involving a car and a big rig truck.

According to a spokesperson from the Department of Public Safety, the accident occurred when the driver of a Mercedes was operating at a high rate of speed and lost control of the car. The vehicle then collided with the semi truck and ended up in the dirt median. The driver suffered serious injuries and a female passenger had minor injuries. Both had to be taken to the hospital.

The spokesperson said that the driver of the Mercedes will eventually be charged with driving under the influence, endangerment and also criminal damage.

Charged with DUI? Contact the Knowles Law Firm to discuss your case with a Phoenix DUI lawyer today.

In Arizona, new sources are saying that college students should think twice before having one last party prior to the first day of school.

It is reported that Tempe police and the East Valley DUI task force are teaming up over the course of the next two Saturdays. Over the weekend, they will be on the lookout for drivers who are under the influence in the eastern metro Phoenix area.

Police say that they will be conducting their DUI operations from the hours of 8 PM to 4 AM.  According to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, there's a 30% chance that drivers will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives.

In Arizona, people who are convicted of driving under the influence can be sentenced with mandatory jail time, hefty monetary fine, substantial court fees, driver's license suspension, vehicle impoundment, interlock devices as well as other fees.

If you have been charged with driving under the influence in Phoenix now is the time to consult with a Phoenix DUI lawyer. Contact our office today to set up your initial consultation.

In Concord, police say that they arrested a 16 year old boy who was driving under the influence.  The boy was taken into police custody after a short police pursuit and accident on Concord Boulevard and Denkinger.

According to Lt. Darrell Graham, the accident occurred just before 2:00 AM and led to a 22 year old man sustaining injuries.  One officer had tried to stop the car on Bailey Road, but the driver managed to continue on his way.  There was a short pursuit that lasted until the 16 year old crashed into the other vehicle on Denkinger.  The collision disabled the vehicle and allowed the officer to move in.

Reports indicate that the 22 year old was injured as a result of the crash.  The 16 year old was driving his parents' car without their permission and was arrested for DUI with injury as well as evading a peace officer.

Were you charged with underage driving under the influence in Phoenix?  If so, contact our law office and ask to speak with a Phoenix DUI lawyer today.

This week in Prescott, police say that they arrested a woman on charges of super extreme DUI.  The woman allegedly crashed into a traffic sign on the State Route 89A off ramp and later failed field sobriety tests after being stopped by police.

According to Lt. Any Reinhardt, police were called to the area after several dispatchers reported that someone was driving erratically.  When an officer arrived, he saw the suspect had driven off of the road about 50 feet and had collided with a traffic sign.

Since the collision, the driver has been identified as 54 year old Dana Lynn Anderson.  Her blood alcohol level was reported as .226%, which is three times the state's legal limit.

Anderson was booked into the Yavapai County Jail on charges of super extreme DUI over .20 BAC, extreme DUI BAC greater than .15, DUI of .08 or more, DUI, felony endangerment and felony criminal damage. 

Charged with super extreme DUI in Arizona?  Now is the time to discuss your charges with a Phoenix DUI attorney.  Contact our law office now!

In Elgin, Arizona, a man has been sentenced to ten years of prison for his 5^th DUI offender. 

45 year old Gregory Echols was sentenced this week in Kane County.  Police say that he pled guilty to one count of aggravated DUI, which is a felony.

On February 28^th, Echols was arrested.  At the time of his arrest, his license had been revoked and he was on parole for his 4^th DUI conviction.

Aside from being charged with driving under the influence 5 times, Echols has been cited 14 times by police since 1992 for driving with a revoked license.

If you have been charged with aggravated DUI in Phoenix, you simply cannot afford to be without legal representation from a Phoenix DUI lawyer.  Contact the Knowles Law Firm today to get the professional help you need from an attorney that has extensive experience handling cases that involve driving under the influence.

This week in Scottsdale, Arizona, Edmonton Oiler goal tender Nikolai Khabibulin appeared in court this Wednesday.  Sources say that he sat in the back of the court house while his defense attorney consulted in the front of the room with the prosecutor and judge.

After consulting with one another, the judge ruled that Khabibulin's driving under the influence case would be postponed.  This is not the first time this has happened.

For the second time in July, 37 year old Khabibulin has appeared in Scottsdale Municipal Court for his DUI charges as well as charges of speeding.  However, each time, the case has been delayed.  This time, the judge ruled that the case would take place on September 29^th due to a busy court calendar.

Charged with DUI in Scottsdale?  If so, let a Phoenix DUI lawyer help you get the case results you desire.  Contact the Knowles Law Firm now!

News sources report that those who have been convicted of driving under the influence in Scottsdale, Arizona will not have the option of serving their sentence under house arrest until October of 2010.  At this time, Scottsdale City Court officials are working with city officials to find an electronic monitoring vendor for the program.

In April, the Scottsdale City Council approved the house arrest program for convicted DUI offenders as court officials said it may be a way for the city to cut costs.  In the state of Arizona, cities have been allowed to have home-detention programs for years and municipal courts have taken advantage of such programs.

Once the program goes into effect, people who are convicted of DUI will have to serve time in Maricopa County Jail.  This costs $172 the first day and $72 each subsequent day.  After 15 days have passed, convicted DUI offenders would be allowed to serve the remainder of their jail time at home.  The price for a home detention costs approximately $100 to set up and then $10 to $18 for subsequent days, which is quite a savings compared to jail time.

It is important to note that not all DUI offenders will be eligible for house arrest.  People who are ineligible are violent offenders and domestic violence offenders.

Contact the Knowles Law Firm to speak with a Phoenix DUI lawyer today!

After people have been pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) in Phoenix, a few things will happen.  First, officers will look for signs of impairment, such as blood shot eyes or slurred speech.  If officers notice signs of impairment, they will usually ask drivers to take a breath test.  They will also ask drivers to perform field sobriety tests.

Decades ago, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration came up with a series of agility tests that were meant to show whether or not people were impaired by drugs and/or alcohol.  Today, most law enforcement officers administer three field sobriety tests:  the one-leg stand, the horizontal gaze nystagmus and the walk and turn.

When people are performing these tests, officers watch for signs that may be indicative of impairment such as people failing to follow instructions, people wobbling or people having overall difficult completing tests.  If officers believe people have failed the FSTs, they may choose to make DUI arrests.

Were you arrested for DUI in Phoenix because you failed your field sobriety tests?  If you said "yes", contact the Knowles Law Firm to discuss your case with a Phoenix DUI lawyer.

This year, the state of Arizona released statistics to the public that showed the number of DUI arrests made during the 4^th of July weekend was higher in 2010 than in 2009.

This Tuesday, law enforcement released data after DUI enforcement this past weekend.  According to the numbers released by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, 434 people were arrested for driving under the influence and traffic related offenses.  In 2009, 350 people were placed under arrest during the same time period.

In a news release, officials said, "These impressive statistics are the result of the dedication and training of police officers, sheriff deputies, volunteers, and other law enforcement personnel that comprise the DUI Task Forces throughout Arizona."

The stats indicate that 24 people were arrested for underage DUI and 126 were arrested for extreme DUI.  The average blood alcohol level was 0.15%, which is almost twice the state's legal limit of 0.08%.  52 people were arrested for drug offenses and 269 citations were issued to people who were not wearing seat belts.  

Were you charged with DUI over the 4^th of July in Phoenix?  If so, contact the Knowles Law Firm and discuss your case with a Phoenix DUI attorney now!

This week in Phoenix, Arizona, news sources report that a man that killed three women during an accident received sentencing.  21 year old Bernie Deshane Baca was sentenced in the U.S. District Court to six years in federal prison for his offenses.

In May 2008, Baca had been driving under the influence and speeding when he suddenly lost control of his car.  He managed to slam into another vehicle head-on in Whiteriver on the Fort Apache Reservation, which is located in eastern Arizona.

Two of the victims died at the scene of the DUI accident and the third died a month later. In January 2010, Baca pled guilty to three counts of involuntary manslaughter said prosecutors.

Being charged with DUI is a serious matter and being charged with causing a DUI accident or vehicular manslaughter is even more serious.  If you have been charged with any of these criminal offenses, now is the time to meet with a Phoenix DUI lawyer.  Contact the Knowles Law firm now!

In Phoenix, a man from San Carlos has received a sentence of six years in federal prison.  According to reports, 21 year old Bernie Deshane Baca was driving under the influence (DUI) when he caused an accident that led to the death of three women in May 2008.

The U.S. Attorney's Office claims that Baca was speeding and driving drunk when he lost control of his vehicle.  His car then slammed into another vehicle head-on in Whiteriver on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, which is located in eastern Arizona.

Two if the victims died at the scene of the accident.  The other died one month after the crash took place.

On January 20^th, Baca pled guilty to three counts of involuntary manslaughter. He will now have to serve time in prison as part of his sentence.

If you have been charged with DUI in Phoenix, do not hesitate to contact the Knowles Law Firm and discuss your case with a Phoenix DUI lawyer.

In Arizona, a 29 year old man allegedly called police to tell them that he was being abusive to his wife.  After calling police, the man was not arrested for domestic abuse.  However, police did arrest him for another criminal offense.

According to police, Joseph Burns was arrested on Wednesday at 9:00 PM because he had an outstanding warrant for driving under the influence in Tempe.  Officers say that Burns called them because his wife commented that she should "just call the police" while the pair was fighting.  So, Burns made it a point to contact law enforcement.

When police came to the couple's home, they did not find any evidence that supported claims of domestic violence.  After checking Burns name in their database, they discovered he had an outstanding warrant and turned him over to Tempe police for his alleged DUI offense.

Charged with DUI in Tempe?  If so, know that a Tempe DUI attorney can be of great help.  Contact the Knowles Law Firm to learn more.

In Sierra Vista, members of the Southeastern Arizona DUI Task Force conducted a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday.  The checkpoint took place on State Route 80, which is just north of Davis Road.  During the checkpoint, police say 456 drove through.

Police say the checkpoint was successful as they were able to make several arrests.  First, they found two undocumented immigrant load vehicles.  All of the illegal immigrants were turned over to the Border Patrol.  Second, they stopped a GMC Denali and discovered the vehicle was loaded with marijuana.  Finally, police arrested two people for driving under the influence (DUI).

Police say that their sobriety checkpoints are made possible through grant funding by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.  They plan to conduct additional checkpoints throughout the year, particularly around holidays.

If you have been charged with DUI in Phoenix, it is important that you discuss your case with a Phoenix DUI lawyer.  Contact the Knowles Law Firm today!

In Phoenix, a Department of Public Safety Officer was recently hit by a person driving under the influence.  Reports indicate that the officer was hit head-on by the drunk driver and is currently recovering from his injuries.  The accident occurred on the Loop 101 around 2 AM on Wednesday. 

Officers say that the drunk driver, 31 year old Michael Chicharello, was driving the wrong way when he hit the DPS officer.  Chicharello would not stop driving, even when the officer turned on his sirens and lights. 

After driving away from the scene of the accident, police were able to find Chicharello at a nearby store.  They had him take a breath tests and his blood alcohol level was reported as being three times the state's legal limit of 0.08%. 

The officer was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for facial injuries and injuries to his upper body.

If you have been charged with DUI in Phoenix, you should talk with a Phoenix DUI attorney.  Contact the Knowles Law Firm today!

Recently, news sources reported that Richie Asmeade was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting arrest in Phoenix, Arizona.  Asmeade is a former basketball player for the University of Connecticut and was part of the team from 1991-1992.

Court documents say that Asmeade, who is 37 years of age, attempted to flee when police stopped him for speeding.  After driving off and hitting a median, he proceeded to run away from police on foot.

Asmeade was arrested for suspicion of DUI, resisting arrest and also suspicion of driving with a suspended license.  He was released from police custody on Tuesday morning at 6:00 AM.

If you have been charged with driving under the influence in Phoenix, you need to discuss your case with a Phoenix DUI defense attorney as soon as possible.  Contact the Knowles Law Firm today to set up your initial consultation so you can learn more about your rights and legal options.

This week, the Arizona Supreme Court made a final ruling regarding blood tests and DUI cases.  The Court ruled that police must have a search warrant in order to require a blood test during a driving under the influence arrest.  The only exception to this ruling is when drivers give police consent.

For weeks, the decision had been much anticipated.  The Arizona Supreme Court needed to make a ruling after several prosecutors used the implied-consent statute to get blood samples from people who were arrested for DUI throughout the state.  Reports indicate that in these cases, if suspects did not refuse testing, they were told to give a blood sample.

In the future, law enforcement officers must inform all DUI suspects of their right to refuse blood testing and must also explain the consequences of refusing testing, which include mandatory license suspension.  If suspects are provided with a warrant, they must submit to blood tests.

If you have been charged with DUI in Phoenix and have questions about your breath or blood test, contact the Knowles Law Firm to speak with a Phoenix DUI lawyer!

In Phoenix, it is reported that the Arizona DUI task forces throughout the state made more than 470 DUI arrests over Memorial Day weekend.  The task forces' numbers show that one fourth of the drivers who were arrested were under suspicion of extreme DUI.

On Tuesday, official numbers were released by Governor Jan Brewer's office.  The numbers showed that 129 of the 476 DUI arrests that were made involved drivers who had blood alcohol concentrations of .15% or higher, which is almost twice the state's legal limit.  In Arizona, if people have blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08% or higher, they are considered to be under the influence.

During Memorial Day weekend in 2009, there were only 291 DUI arrests and only 77 cases involved extreme DUI.

The task forces were comprised of 1,334 police officers and deputies.  Police also say they made 76 DUI drug arrests during the holiday weekend, which ended on Monday night.

If you were charged with DUI in Phoenix over Memorial Day weekend, now is the time to discuss your case with a Phoenix DUI lawyer.  Contact the Knowles Law Firm today and start fighting your charges!

In Arizona, 29 year old Jessica Wayas was placed under arrest for driving under the influence (DUI).  Police arrested Wayas after she drove into a pickup truck with her two children in her vehicle.  Police say that she was driving with her 5 year old daughter and 6 year old son as passengers when she crashed into a pickup driven by a 71 year old man.

Wayas was arrested for suspicion of two counts of aggravated DUI, two counts of child abuse, aggravated assault and felony criminal damage. 

According to investigators, Wayas' Ford Mustang swerved and then crashed into the pickup.  Wayas suffered injuries and so did her two children who were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the DUI accident.  Her son was treated for cuts and her daughter suffered head injuries.  After Wayas' arrest, the girl was handed over to Children's Protective Services.

The other driver had to be rushed to the hospital due to severe chest pains and had to undergo open heart surgery.

If you have been charged with a serious DUI offense, such as aggravated DUI, you should contact the Knowles Law Firm and set up a time to speak with a Phoenix DUI attorney from our team.

In Phoenix, a 31 year old man is now facing charged if DUI and aggravated assault.  Police say that while driving drunk, the man crashed his car into a canal.

The canal was located near 67^th Avenue and Buckeye Road.  Police report that the vehicle was seriously damaged and that the accident took place last Friday at around 7:00 PM.  The officer that arrived at the scene of the accident said that three people were inside the car, but after the accident, they fled the scene.  They were later picked up by a person driving a white SUV.

Witnesses that saw the accident gave police a description of the white SUV, which was tracked down a short time later.  When police found the driver of the SUV, he told them where he took the three individuals.  Police went to the address and found all three at the residence with minor injuries. They were all escorted to a local hospital for treatment.

The driver of the car had a cut on his head and also had a BAC of 0.146%, which is well above the state's legal blood alcohol limit.  Aside from being charged with DUI, the driver is also facing charges for leaving the scene of an accident as well as endangerment.

Charged with DUI in Phoenix?  A Phoenix DUI lawyer from the Knowles Law Firm can help.  Contact us today to explore your legal options.

In Scottsdale, a woman from Phoenix, Arizona was cited for driving under the influence (DUI). Police say that the woman was driving a Cadillac when she crashed into another car.  The crash resulted in both vehicles colliding with objects on the side of the road.

The woman, 34 year old Randi-Lee Brandfass, was reportedly driving eastbound on Shea Boulevard at 10 PM on Monday.  The victim, who was driving a Nissan, was also heading east on Shea Boulevard.  While traveling east, Brandfass' vehicle swerved into the left lane and hit a traffic sign in the center median.  Her car then went off the north side of the road where it came to a sudden halt on top of an enormous boulder.

After being hit, the driver in the Nissan struck a light pole and also a tree.  The driver and his female passenger were taken to a nearby hospital and were reported to have suffered non-life threatening injuries.  Brandfass was also treated for minor injuries.

If you have been charged with DUI in Scottsdale, now is the time to speak with a Scottsdale DUI attorney from the Knowles Law Firm.  Contact us today to discuss your DUI case!

Recently, police officers announced that they would be conducting a DUI checkpoint near Castle Hot Springs Road alongside the Lake Pleasant entrance.  The checkpoint will take place on May 31^st between the hours of 3 PM till 8 PM.  Police hope that the announcement of the checkpoint will deter people from driving under the influence in Phoenix and surrounding cities.

At the checkpoint, officers plan to stop cars and speak with drivers.  Police will be on the lookout for signs that are indicative of intoxication.  Those who appear to be DUI will be subjected to further investigation and questioning.

According to news sources, DUI checkpoints and related patrol events are held about once in a month.  During these events, drivers are encouraged to avoid drinking and driving as police are on the lookout and are looking to crackdown on those individuals who violate state law.

Have you been charged with DUI in Phoenix?  If so, now is the time to consult with a Phoenix DUI lawyer from Knowles Law Firm.  Contact us today to discuss your DUI case and learn how we can assist you.

In the city of Scottsdale, it was announced that the mother of Phoenix Suns star, Amar'e Stoudemire, was arrested for driving under the influence this past Sunday.  Police say that they saw a black Lincoln Navigator straddle two traffic lanes near Shea Boulevard so they conducted a DUI stop.

When they pulled the car over, they found Carrie Stoudemire behind the wheel.  Police say that they asked to see her driver's license and learned that an ignition interlock was needed by Stoudemire at all times.  The device is meant to stop drunk drivers from operating motor vehicles.

Stoudemire told police that she did not need an interlock device because she was driving a rental car.  She insisted that she was not under the influence, but officers said her eyes appeared "watery and glossy". 

When a second officer arrived, Stoudemire was asked to perform field sobriety tests.  She refused, so she was handcuffed, placed in the back of a police car and escorted to a local police station.

Were you recently charged with DUI in Scottsdale?  If you answered "yes", now is the time to consult with a Scottsdale DUI attorney from the Knowles Law Firm.  We can help you fight your criminal charges and move on with your life.  Contact the Knowles Law Firm now!