Was it a new summer uniform for police? Deputy makes arrest while only in boxers and a tee shirt…

Deputy Russell Preston was at home on Thursday when a pickup truck hit a light police and then skidded into Preston’s front yard.

Then the drunk driver takes off and what would any Deputy do, give chase of course.

But one thinks of a Deputy in uniform chasing down the bad guys but not in this case.

Deputy Russell Preston was wearing a tee shirt, boxers and socks when he elected to start a foot pursuit of the fleeing suspect.

A local bank president was driving by and happened to see Preston in hot pursuit.

The president motioned Preston into his car and away they went.

They caught up to the suspect a few blocks away and somehow were able to get him stopped.

The man was arrested for DUI and other offenses.

After it was over the bank president said that Preston immediately said he was a deputy and that he had to take his word for it sine he wasn’t wearing a badge.

At least the drunk driver was removed from the streets but this case has all kinds of problems. I guess if I were a defense attorney, I would have a field day with this case…

But thank god I’m not…

Anyway, first and foremost the first issue I would address would be the clothing of the deputy. By law (in most states) an officer must display his badge of authority to make an arrest. There is no exception to that.

Now I have seen on line where one could order tee shirts, boxers and socks with a badge logo on them, maybe he was decked out in police attire.

Now with what has been reported, it’s unclear if Preston made the arrest or if another officer was dispatched to the call and the other officer actually made the arrest. Hopefully other uniformed officers made the arrest.

Not to mention pursuit policies are pretty strict as well, most require a pursuit vehicle to be equipped with emergency lights and a siren. And sadly those policies don’t include civilian vehicles.

Anyway, like I said, I’m glad the drunk driver was removed from the streets out in Racine, Wis.

I just hope the boxer wearing deputy didn’t make enough mistakes in this case to have the man set free.

Do I really want to go to jail?

Do I really want to go to jail?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Stephen Shoemaker, 33, of Shippensburg, PA was scheduled to appear in court at 0930 on Tuesday for sentencing on a 2007 DUI charge.

Seems Shoemaker lost his license and now has no car. He had set up transportation to court that morning but his brother failed to appear and he had not ride to court.

So what does anyone in this situation do, simple, elect to walk the 25 miles to court.

Seems he forgot about 90 plus degree heat as he headed to the Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle.

Only problem with his 25 mile hike, he seems to have forgotten to take water with him. He had to make a short detour to Carlisle Regional Medical Center and be treated for dehydration.

He was a little late to court; as a matter of fact the Judge had already issued a warrant when he failed to appear at 0930. He did not arrive in court until 1530.

Judge Guido agreed to defer sentencing until July. He did hesitate on that decision because “that means he’ll have to walk back to Shippensburg.

Deputy Public Defender Anthony Adams volunteered to give Shoemaker a ride home.