CITY OF PETALUMA, CA
POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/BROADCAST
DATE: MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
OCCURRED DATE AND TIME: JULY 27TH THRU JULY 29TH
INCIDENT: 9 DUI DRIVERS ARRESTED OVER THE WEEKEND, 2 WERE INVOLVED IN HIT AND RUN COLLISIONS
LOCATION: PETALUMA
SUMMARY: On Friday night, 3 DUI drivers were arrested. Suspect Megan Neal (22 yrs old, Petaluma resident), was driving in the 1600 block of Northstar Drive, where she struck 2 parked vehicles and left the scene. She was located nearby and arrested. On Saturday, 4 DUI drivers were arrested. On Sunday 2 DUI drivers were arrested, including, Suspect Joel Grodivant (22 yrs old, Petaluma resident). Suspect Grodivant was reported as a reckless driver and reportedly struck a parked vehicle in the 200 block of Walnut St. Officers located his abandoned vehicle, but were able to find Grodivant walking on foot in the area. Grodivant was arrested for DUI, Hit and Run and Driving on a Suspended License.
Last weekend, 7 DUI drivers were arrested. Since January 1, 175 DUI drivers have been arrested. In 2011, 313 DUI drivers were arrested. DUI arrests had been declining since 2009, when 608 DUI arrests were made. Staffing reductions and grant funding have prevented the Traffic Unit from assigning a dedicated DUI Officer on nights over the past 2 years. Starting this month, with the assistance of a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety, a dedicated Traffic Officer with their primary focus on DUI Enforcement, will work a nighttime shift.
PREPARED BY: LT. TIM LYONS
CONTACT NUMBER: 707-778-4372
Lt. Tim Lyons
Special Operations Lieutenant
Petaluma Police Department
969 Petaluma Blvd North
Petaluma, CA 94952
Phone (707) 776-3718
FAX (707) 778-4476
[email protected]
