Stun gun used to subdue DUI suspect

Drivers who are stopped by police on suspicion of drunk driving often make their situation worse by engaging in conduct that constitutes a more serious offense. A prime example of such conduct occurred near Belleville when Illinois state police arrived at the scene of a single-vehicle accident and the two suspects attempted to eliminate the need for a DUI defense attorney by running away.

An Illinois state police officer arrived at the scene of the accident at about 10:45 p.m. He saw a 33-year-old man and 27-year-old woman allegedly attempting to push their car off the highway. When the officer stopped on the shoulder and opened his squad car door, the man and woman allegedly began running from the scene. The officer was able to apprehend the male suspect in short order, but the woman kept running.

The officer gave chase and finally caught up with the woman. When he attempted to handcuff her, the woman allegedly became abusive and aggressive toward the officer. The officer said that he could smell alcohol on her breath. When the woman allegedly punched the officer in the chest, he warned her that he would use his stun gun if she did not stop resisting. The woman ignored the caution, and the officer shot her with his stun gun. The shock from the stun gun caused the woman to cease resisting, and she was taken into custody. No details were released about the couple’s state of intoxication or formal criminal charges.

The two suspects in this case compounded their difficulties by attempting to flee the scene. What may have been a routine DUI violation immediately became the more serious crime of attempting to avoid arrest. The woman’s allegedly hostile actions toward the police officer may also provide the basis for a charge of resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer. A capable criminal defense attorney may be able to assist the couple in defending against whatever criminal charges may be entered, but they did themselves no favors by attempting to flee.

Source: Belleville News-Democrat, “Officer chases DUI suspect, uses stun gun on her after she fled crash,” Kaley Johnson, Sep. 6, 2017