The crash happened when the driver of a Ford Taurus allegedly trying to flee from Sarasota County Sheriff’s Deputies and driving speeds of 60 mph on residential streets, lost control and slammed into a house in the 4600 block of Argonaut Road in Venice.

Deputies were trying to pull the vehicle over, because it couldn’t stay between the lines on the road, according to a report.

Early reports indicated a man that died in the crash, 42-year-old Richard Jones of Sarasota, was driving the car, but deputies now say that is not so.

The 24-year-old suspect has been charged with a long list of crimes following the crash and was arrested on Monday.

Deputies say the suspect was ejected from vehicle during the crash, and she and another woman in the car were flown by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center for their injuries.

She told deputies at the crash scene that the man found dead in the passenger seat, Jones, had been driving.

According to a report, the suspect’s driver’s license had been suspended indefinitely for numerous violations.

Florida Highway Patrol Troopers also assisted in the investigation.

The suspect is charged with two counts of Vehicular Manslaughter, one being for an unborn child. It is not known if she or the other female passenger was pregnant. She is also charged with three counts of DUI With Serious Bodily Injury, two counts of Driving While License Suspended with Death or Serious Injury and one count of Fleeing to Elude.

She is being held in the Sarasota County Jail without bond.

Without a DUI attorney to protect her rights this women will be behind bars for at least 15 years.

Have you recently been charged with a DUI in Venice or elsewhere in Sarasota County? If so, we may be able to help you. Simple call 941-916-3627 to schedule your free consultation with a Venice, FL DUI lawyer now.

Source

New reports indicate that the arresting officer was approached by a citizen in order to learn of the teacher’s drunk behavior. The anonymous citizen told the deputy “he was all over the road and going to kill someone.”

The arresting deputy reportedly had this to say in his report:

• He saw the suspect parked very close to the gas pumps at the BP station, eating what appeared to be a yellow wrapper.
• The suspect told the deputy that he was very drunk and repeated that he was drunk for about every question he was asked (never a good idea)
• The suspect was slurring his words, his eyes were bloodshot and he had trouble standing.  The deputy also noted that when he opened the door, he was overcome with a pungent odor of alcohol.

This was the suspects 4th DUI arrest.

Officials at the school board tell us he is back in the classroom teaching today.  They say if it is an offense where a teacher is off-duty and doesn’t affect their work, it doesn’t affect the teacher’s status.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Venice like the above suspect, or anywhere else in Sarasota we urge you to immediately schedule a free consultation with our team of drunk driving professionals. We will investigate the constitutionality of the stop, the procedures used in obtaining evidence, the constitutionality of any statements you gave, and the accuracy of any tests administered. Contact the Sarasota DUI attorneys at Musca Law now:

Sarasota County Office
1990 Main Street, Suite 750
Sarasota, FL 34326
Phone: 941-916-3627

Source

The arrest is the fourth time the suspect, a 52-year-old music teacher at Venice Middle, has been charged with drunken driving since 2001, authorities said. He has two prior DUI convictions in Sarasota County, court records show.

A school district spokesman said he was hired at the school in 1996, but could not say whether the district was aware of his previous arrests and what action, if any, would be taken by the district.

A witness flagged down a deputy at 6 p.m. Sunday and said that the Venice DUI suspect was swerving on Stickney Point Road.

When the deputy saw the suspect at a gas station, the teacher was eating the plastic wrapper of a sandwich and stumbled out of his car, authorities say.

The suspect told the deputy he had been drinking vodka at a Gulf Gate bar and could not stand without falling over, according to the arrest report.

“I’m drunk,” he reportedly told the lawman. “You got me. I confess.”

He was tested and later had a blood alcohol level of 0.3 — nearly four times the .08 legal limit.

He remains Monday in the Sarasota County Jail on a $10,000 bond. He was also charged with having a suspended license.

This school teacher is facing some serious charges. Without the help of a qualified Venice DUI Attorney he could face up to 5 years in prison. Not to mention the fines and the penalties for driving without a license.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: If you have been arrested for DUI in Venice or drunk driving somewhere else in Sarasota County pick up the phone and call 941-916-3627 ASAP to speak with a Sarasota DUI Lawyer at Musca Law. You have only 10 days to schedule a formal administrative review hearing to retain you drivers license. If you do not attend this hearing your license will be automatically suspended.

For more information on Florida DUI laws, or if you have been arrested for DUI, please schedule a free confidential consultation with an experienced FL DUI defense attorney by calling us, phones answered 24/7. Time is important; experience does matter.

Source