July 27, 2011
By Rhonda Reed-Slaughter
Imagine for a moment, it’s Memorial Day weekend, and you’re leaving a party around 1am, headed home after a long day of barbeques and celebration.
Suddenly, in the rear view mirror, you notice the police lights. You immediately pull over, anxiously thinking – "My God, what did I do?"
It’s clear the police officer suspect you of driving under the influence. You nervously explain the number of drinks consumed that night (4 or 5 beers). The last drink consumed over an hour ago. As far as you’re concerned, there’s no problem, you did nothing wrong.
But the police officer has his own suspicions. He administers several field sobriety tests, and shockingly, before you know it, you are taken into custody, arrested on DUI charges.
As soon as you arrive at the police station, a breathalyzer test is given. The legal limit for driving in Illinois is .08 percent. Your blood-alcohol concentration was 0.00.
Cased closed. No DUI case after all, right?
Wrong. Instead of immediately releasing you and dropping the charges. The police continued with the arrest, collecting fingerprints, taking a mug shot, and even providing your name to the media.
According to the police, they need to “arrest you completely before unarresting you.”
In a state of horror and absolute embarrassment, you leave the police station feeling confused and victimized.
How can this happen in America?
Note: The dramatic scenario described (above) actually happened to Glen Ellyn resident, David Briddle. We used the facts published in the Chicago Sun-Times and Naperville Sun to re-create the incident.
DAVID BRIDDLE’S LAWSUIT AGAINST NAPERVILLE
Glen Ellyn resident, David Briddle has filed a lawsuit against the arresting officer, and the City of Naperville for defamation and false arrest.
The lawsuit accuses the police department of “boosting DUI arrests to gain recognition and other benefits.” Last year, the City of Naperville ranked #2 in DUI arrest (621) among Illinois cities other than Chicago.
David Briddle hired famed attorney Kathleen Zellner to represent him.
Kathleen Zellner is most notably known for helping to exonerate at least 10 men wrongly convicted and/or incarcerated in Illinois.
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Source: Chicago Sun-Times 7/19/11, Naperville Sun, 7/20/11, Kathleen T. Zellner & Associates.
