Florida Legislator Charged With DUI
AZ Central reports that the police believe freshman Rep. Dane Eagle provided the latest example of a lawmaker behaving badly. At about 2 a.m. one Monday, a police officer saw a black SUV exit a Taco Bell parking lot. As the driver pulled onto the roadway, he barely missed striking the median before running a red light and rolling over a nearby curb.
The officer pulled Eagle over and reports that the congressional representative smelled of alcohol and that his eyes were bloodshot. The officer insisted that Eagle exit the vehicle, at which point he noticed that the lawmaker was having difficulty walking and needed to lean on his vehicle to remain standing.
The arresting officer asked Eagle about the smell, which he claimed was emanating from his passengers. He denied drinking and refused both a field sobriety test and a breath test. He allegedly told the officer that he was okay to drive home.
Police arrested Eagle and charged him with a DUI. If you’re facing driving-under-the-influence charges in Fort Myers, call us. At The Law Offices of Michael M. Raheb, P.A., we are committed to ensuring that the court treats our clients fairly in the courtroom.
We will thoroughly review your case, looking for any discrepancies that could indicate that police violated your rights. To schedule a free consultation with a Fort Myers DUI defense lawyer, call us today at 866-949-0888.
Eagle Denies That He Was Driving Under The Influence
Eagle released a written statement to the press, claiming that he is innocent of the charges against him. He says that the police report is not completely accurate, but he refused to elaborate under advice from his attorney. He also promised to discuss the matter further in the near future.
The police officer was very detailed in his report, especially regarding the probable cause for arresting Eagle. Police must prove that the traffic stop leading to a DUI arrest was reasonable. If they fail to do so, the judge may dismiss the charges.
Eagle Has Several Defense Options Open To Him Depending On The Exact Circumstances
From a defense perspective, Eagle could argue that the officer did not have probable cause if he believes that the officer was not entirely honest on the report. In this case, it would be important to rely on testimony from any witnesses that could contradict the officer’s claim that Eagle was driving recklessly.
Another defense strategy involves arguing against the officer’s ability to detect intoxication through observations. In other words, Eagle could challenge the officer’s claims that he was drunk simply because he smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes.
A variety of medical conditions and medications can cause both symptoms, offering an explanation for his appearance other than intoxication.
If you’re looking for an experienced criminal-defense attorney to handle your driving-under-the-influence case, don’t hesitate to contacts us. At The Law Offices of Michael M. Raheb, P.A., we have more than 15 years of experience helping people like you work toward favorable outcomes to their DUI trials.
To learn more about our DUI defense services, call us today at 866-949-0888.
