San Diego DUI Attorney Blog

San Diego and Orange County witness their fair share of DUI horror stories, but this week, an event out of Everett, Washington (of all places) has taken the cake as perhaps the most upsetting DUI arrest gone wrong in a while. According to numerous news reports, a middle-aged man was shot and killed by police outside a Chuckwagon Inn restaurant, following a confrontation in the restaurant’s parking lot.

Patrons at the Chuckwagon Inn reported that the yet-to-be-identified man had been drinking excessively. The bartender warned him not to drive, but the man insisted on heading to his car anyway. Concerned patrons phoned the police, who arrived on the scene and attempted to dissuade the man from getting into his white Corvette. He refused.

A series of confusing moments then followed. According to witness accounts, the police leaned in through the window of the Corvette and tasered the man. Somehow -- either in an involuntary reaction to the taser shock or in an attempt to flee the police -- the man slammed on the gas. The Corvette plowed into the fence surrounding the parking lot, bringing it down on a bystander (who was not injured). Officers reacted in a panic by opening fire on the fleeing vehicle, shattering the Corvette’s windows. The man suffered a fatal gunshot injury to his head and died at the scene.

Snohomish County Police are investigating the matter internally, and they have placed the officer who fired the shots on administrative leave while the matter is being reviewed.

DUI arrests – whether in San Diego, Orange County, or Everett, Washington – can get exceptionally complicated. Police officers acting on questionable judgment and adrenaline can make bad decisions that can cost drivers their freedoms… and even their lives. To build a smart DUI defense, you need a capable, veteran lawyer who can explain your rights and build a sound legal strategy for you. Look to the law offices of Steven Brodsky for assistance with your San Diego DUI case.