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Month: December 2013

Dodger Yasiel Puig Arrested For Reckless Driving

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Dodgers star outfielder Yasiel Puig was arrested last Saturday after the Florida Highway Patrol clocked him driving 110 mph in a 70 mph zone.  Puig was arrested, taken to the local county jail for processing and likely given a citation to appear.

California Vehicle Code section 23103 (reckless driving) states that any person convicted of this section shall receive county jail for no less than 5 days and no more than 90 and a fine of somewhere between $145 – $1,000, or both.

Reckless driving is a misdemeanor in California and is something that should be treated very seriously.  Not only is there the possibility of jail time for a conviction, but also potential impact on your driver’s license or even your employment.  There are many factors that are considered by the prosecutor in a reckless driving case.  Your rate of speed, whether or not you were swerving, any good cause explanation for the rate of speed, and other factors are highly relevant in getting this charged reduced and avoiding jail.

If you were arrested in Los Angeles for reckless driving, a DUI, hit and run or any other traffic violation in Los Angeles, contact attorney Ross Erlich as soon as possible to prevent your license from being suspended.  Remember, taking care of something like this the right way the first time will likely save you headache in the months or years to follow.

DUI Arrests Up So Far This Holiday Season

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California’s state task force again drunk driving reported an increase in the number of DUI arrests so far this season.

Since Friday, December 13, through midnight this Monday, there were 1,366 arrests of suspected drunk drivers from reported from 100 law enforcement agencies throughout the state.  This number is up from the 1,298 arrests made during the same time period in 2012.

The California Highway Patrol has stepped up enforcement during the holiday season and are deploying additional DUI checkpoints through January 1st.  LAPD says they concentrate their efforts on Hollywood and North Hollywood, the two areas where DUIs have been a major problem.

If you live in Los Angeles, chances are you realize the problems that this large geographical area has with going out and having a few drinks – someone is going to have to drive. You also probably know that the law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles take driving under the influence seriously and pay extra attention to drivers during the holiday season.  That being said, the best way to prevent being arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles would be to get a designated driver or a cab.

If you are pulled over for driving under the influence, cooperate fully with the police officer.  Under California’s implied consent law, you are required to submit to a chemical test if the officer has reason to believe you might be operating your vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs or both.  You can choose between a blood test, a breathalyzer test at the police station, or a urine test at those stations that still offer that option.

The one thing to keep in mind is that you are NOT going to talk your way out of an arrest.  Telling the officer “I wasn’t that drunk” or, “I only had a couple beers” is not going to make them have a change of heart and let you go home.  You have a right to an attorney before the police question you and I would highly recommend exercising that right before you make any statements.

If you have been arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles, contact attorney Ross Erlich as soon as possible.  Ross Erlich handles all types of DUI-related offenses as well as all of the corresponding DMV proceedings.   It is crucial for you to contact the DMV or an attorney within 10 days after your arrest before your license is suspended automatically.

If you have questions related to DUI, reckless driving, or driving under the influence in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or North Hollywood, contact our office today.

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5 Men Due In Pasadena Court In Death Of Marine Reservist

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5 men were due in court this morning on charges related to the death of a 25-year-old Marine reservist on August 6 after sustaining a head injury during a fight the previous day.

The reservist got into an altercation at the bar the night before and was, allegedly, attacked without provocation after he left the bar with his friends.  A dash cam video shows the reservist getting punched, falling and hitting his head on the curb.  He was taken to the hospital, where he died of blunt-force trauma to his head.

5 men have been charged with one count each of assault with a deadly weapon, one of whom has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Assault with a deadly weapon is an assault that is committed with any type of deadly weapon or by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury.  This aggravated assault and batter is punishable by anywhere from 2 to 4 years in state prison, up to a $10,000 fine and a possible strike on your record.  (see detailed assault Penal Code here).

There are many levels of assault in California.  Assault with a deadly weapon is, by nature, a “wobbler” which can be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor.  Consideration is given to the nature of the incident, the weapon used, the injuries to the victim and the credibility of the victim and aggressor.  Because assault with a deadly weapon is a “wobbler”, it is important to contact attorney Ross Erlich as soon as possible so that lines of communication can go up between our office and the District Attorney’s office.  It is not uncommon for District Attorneys to speak with defense lawyers before actual charges are filed and work to reduce the severity of the ultimate charges.

If you have been charged with assault and/or battery, it is important to stay calm, contact an attorney and not discuss the matter with law enforcement or anyone else for that matter.  Attorney Ross Erlich is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a free consultation.

Ex-Sheriff Deputy Gets Probation For Hit-And-Run DUI

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A former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy was sentenced to three years probation for driving with more than twice the legal blood alcohol limit, hitting another vehicle, injuring the occupant of that vehicle and then fleeing the scene.

The former deputy will have to wear an alcohol-monitoring device for two years and will have to install an ignition interlock device (IID) on any vehicle that is registered to him.

Michael Grundy, the ex-deputy mentioned above, was driving under the influence of alcohol and another unspecified drug when he hit another car in a South Los Angeles intersection.  He was ultimately found by two other deputies, returned to the scene of the crime and arrested by the CHP.

Grundy had already completed a 180-day rehabilitation program at the time of sentencing and was ordered to pay over $25,000 in restitution to the victim in the case. Grundy had previously been arrested for drunk driving in Riverside County in 2005.

Grundy was originally charged with felony DUI causing injury, which is a very serious crime in Los Angeles.  Considering there was likely an additional charge of hit-and-run, prosecutors likely sought jail time and a substantial amount of restitution.  Many people believe that if you are driving under the influence and get into an accident, the best course of action is to attempt to flee and avoid arrest.  The problem with that choice is if you get charged with a separate count of hit-and-run, you are looking at additional punishment, fines and restrictions on your driver’s license.

If you have been charged with a DUI or hit and run in Los Angeles, it is important to contact attorney Ross Erlich as soon as possible.  The DMV must be contacted within 10 days of the date of arrest to prevent an automatic suspension of your driver’s license so contact us before it is too late!

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Inglewood Police Standoff Leads To Attempted Murder Charges

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A man who shot at, and injured, police officer’s in a hostage standoff last week has been formally charged with multiple counts of attempted murder of a police officer, kidnapping and child abuse.

In total, the man is being charged with 26 felony counts and include the attempted murder of police officers, assault on a police officer with a semiautomatic firearm, kidnapping, child abuse, false imprisonment, possession of a firearm by a felon and making criminal threats.  If convicted at trial, this man faces up to life in prison.

Allegedly, Mr. Warsaw, the suspect in this case, took his girlfriend and her child hostage for nearly eight hours.  Mr. Warsaw was allegedly seen dragging a screaming woman by her hair outside of a residence.  When police officers arrived to the location, shots were fired from inside a room at the house.  An Inglewood Police officer was shot once in the chest but was saved by the bulletproof vest.

Ultimately Warsaw was taken into custody and booked into jail on these charges.

Shooting a gun at a police officer might be one of the worst things to do if you are being confronted by law enforcement.  Not only are you risking being shot at, you are looking at potential attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges, and these are some of the serious charges around.

The best thing to do if contacted by law enforcement is to cooperate fully, exercise your right to remain silent, and request to speak to your attorney before being questioned. Too many times do I see statements made to law enforcement with the hopes that people can “talk their way out of the situation.”  I’ve yet to see someone successfully do so.

If you have been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, child abuse, false imprisonment, possession of a firearm or making criminal threats, contact attorney Ross Erlich as soon as possible and definitely before you make any statements to the authorities.  Remember that the first call you make to Attorney Ross Erlich will likely be the smartest call you will ever make.