Driver downs drink as cops arrest him

**OfficerResource.com** · 10-21-09, 12:29 PM

SPRINGDALE – James Robinson had one more for the road, police said.

After all, they don’t serve hard liquor in jail.

When police caught the 32-year-old Florence man early Monday driving with an open bottle of Smirnoff Vodka, Robinson finished off the final sips as he was being arrested, police said.

That last drink resulted in an additional charge of tampering with evidence. Robinson is facing charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and having an open container of alcohol.

Springdale police were called to Ventura Court after getting a call that Robinson was trying to break into his former wife’s home. Robinson had fled in a white Toyota by the time officers arrived, setting in motion a search, police said.

Officers pulled Robinson over down the road, quickly noticing “a strong odor of alcohol on his person and bloodshot, glassy eyes,” according to the arrest report.

Robinson failed a field sobriety test, police said.

That’s when he guzzled down the remaining vodka, police said.

Driver downs drink as cops arrest him | Cincinnati.com | The Cincinnati Enquirer

**Jenna** · 10-21-09, 12:33 PM

I guess he didn't want the vodka to go to waste!

**jmur5074** · 10-21-09, 03:33 PM

I know of an officer that missed a bottle after he arrested a guy, and caught him drinking from it in the back seat of his squad on the way to jail. For DWI.

And yeah I know, how do you miss a frickin' liquor bottle right? I dunno either.

**Pudge** · 10-21-09, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

I know of an officer that missed a bottle after he arrested a guy, and caught him drinking from it in the back seat of his squad on the way to jail. For DWI.

And yeah I know, how do you miss a frickin' liquor bottle right? I dunno either.

That happened here. While on the stop, crash, whatever, the officer put the 6 pack in the back of his car so it wasn't left in the vehicle.

On the way in for a test he heard, "pop, gulp gulp gulp gulp", by the time he got the car stopped and out, the guy was on his second beer in the car. lol

**Captain America** · 10-21-09, 04:26 PM

I wouldn't be surprised if in any of the above cases some defense lawyer tries to argue that their client wasn't intoxicated until they polished off the can/bottle so therefore there is resasonable doubt as to whether or not their client was driving while intoxicated. That would probably fly here. Control your arrestee's people, might be a weapon next time.

**Cidp24** · 10-21-09, 04:42 PM

I got called to a prescription forgery. The pharmacist got the tag number on the suspects car and I located him about a block away, at his apartment. It was a guy I went to high school with. When we finally got him to come to the door, he told me that he chugged the bottle of cough syrup and a couple of beers before coming to the door. He figured he was going to jail, might as well go messed up like a lab rat.