DUI Round-Up, 53 Arrests in August 2014
In August 2014 officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department made 53 arrests for driving under the influence violations. Arrests are made each month when concerned citizens call 9-1-1 after witnessing possible DUI drivers. The SBPD would like to thank the responsible citizens who take the time to call and report suspected drunk drivers. The following is information on a few of last month’s cases.
8/1/14 at 7:54 p.m.: Malorie Bette French (age 23) was involved in a collision when she rear-ended a vehicle near the intersection of State Street and Yanonali Street. Officer Beutel, Officer Corbett, and Reserve Officer Barlow were nearby working on the Nightlife Enforcement Team during Fiesta when they heard the sound of a vehicle in a locked-wheel skid. They looked and observed French’s vehicle rear-end another car that was stopped, waiting in the left-hand turn lane on State Street. Officer Beutel and Reserve Officer Barlow ran to the collision scene to assess if there were any injuries. Officer Beutel contacted French and noticed that she was displaying symptoms of alcohol intoxication. Officer Eccles, who was working the Drinking Driver Team for Fiesta, responded and conducted a DUI investigation on French. French stated that she had consumed two vodka and red bull drinks prior to driving. Officer Eccles had French perform several field sobriety tests and determined that French was too impaired to safely operate a motor vehicle. French was placed under arrest for DUI and she chose to submit to a breath test which registered her BAC at .15 and .16. French was issued a citation for DUI.
8/1/14 at 8:25 p.m.: Elizabeth Arcemejia (age 24) was involved in a collision at the Fuel Depot Gas Station on Carrillo Street when she backed into a parked car. A witness who observed the collision called 9-1-1. Officer McGrew and Officer Denbrook arrived on scene and contacted Arcemejia who immediately stated that she was drunk. Officer Denbrook observed signs of intoxication and attempted to ascertain where Arcemejia had been prior to the collision and how much alcohol she had consumed, however she just kept repeating that she was drunk. She stated that she knew she was drunk and was trying to drive home to Isla Vista since she didn’t want to sleep in her car. Officer Denbrook became concerned for Arcemejia due to her level of intoxication and requested that paramedics respond to medically evaluate her. After Arcemejia was evaluated by paramedics Officer Denbrook placed her under arrest for DUI. Arcemejia chose to submit to a blood test which registered her BAC at .18. Arcemejia was booked into County Jail for DUI.
8/6/14 at 5:56 p.m.: Marhya Dawn Kelly (age 39) was involved in a single-vehicle injury collision when she collided with a tree at the intersection of La Coronilla Drive and La Cresta Circle. Kelly had her two children, ages eight and twelve, in her vehicle with her. Police and paramedics responded, as did firefighters who extricated the occupants from the vehicle. All three sustained injuries which required medical attention at the hospital. Paramedics informed Officer Corral that Kelly smelled strongly of alcohol and Officer Corral became concerned that the collision was a result of Kelly driving under the influence. Officer Corral contacted Kelly at the hospital however she was unable to be interviewed due to her injuries. Officer Corral obtained a search warrant for a blood test and obtained an evidentiary blood sample which registered Kelly’s BAC at .11. Due to her injuries Kelly could not be booked into County Jail. A referral was made to Child Protective Services and the case was forwarded to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office for review and filing of felony DUI causing injury and child endangerment charges against Kelly.
8/17/14 at 6:45 p.m.: Bill Joseph Ockenfels (age 56) was parking his car on the 00 block of E. Figueroa Street when he collided with the vehicles in front of and behind his repeatedly in bumper car fashion. Ockenfels and his companion then exited the vehicle and walked away. An off-duty deputy witnessed the collision and saw that Ockenfels failed to leave a note on the victim vehicles or contact police. The deputy followed Ockenfels while calling 9-1-1 to report the hit-and-run. Officer Harrison arrived and made contact with Ockenfels at the intersection of Carrillo Street and Anacapa Street. She noticed that Ockenfels appeared intoxicated and requested an additional officer to assist. Officer Beutel arrived and conducted a DUI investigation on Ockenfels. She noticed that Ockenfels appeared very intoxicated, was slurring his speech, had bloodshot watery eyes, and needed to use a nearby wall to help him maintain his balance. Ockenfels, who is on probation for a prior DUI and was driving on a suspended license, was uncooperative and refused to answer questions and refused to cooperate with field sobriety tests. Ockenfels refused to submit to a chemical test stating that he was drunk and knew that he was going to jail, but believed that refusing a chemical test would result in the case getting thrown out of court. Officer Beutel obtained a search warrant for a blood test and transported Ockenfels to County Jail. Ockenfels continued to state that the chemical test would have to be done “by force.” A blood test was obtained which registered his BAC at .25, more than three times the legal limit. Ockenfels was booked into County Jail for DUI, hit-and-run, driving on a suspended license, and violation of DUI probation.
8/24/14 at 7:44 p.m.: Katherine Elizabeth Spear (age 30) drove her vehicle through a DUI checkpoint located on 2900 Las Positas Road. Officer Cruz contacted Spear, noticed that she displayed signs of alcohol intoxication, and asked her to pull over for further investigation. Officer Cruz contacted Spear and had her step out of her car. Spear appeared very intoxicated, was wearing her shirt backwards and inside out, and was crying because she said she had a relationship recently end. Spear stated she had consumed some Pinot Grigio wine prior to driving and was on her way home from Jack in the Box. Officer Cruz had Spear perform several field sobriety tests which she failed to successfully complete. Officer Cruz determined that Spear was far too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle and placed her under arrest for DUI. Spear chose to submit to a breath test which registered her BAC at .17 and .16. Spear was issued a citation for DUI and admitted into the Sobering Center.
Address/Location
Santa Barbara Police Department
215 East Figueroa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-897-2300
Sergeant Riley L. Harwood
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
805-897-2320