OWI/OWRCS- Dismissed-Grant County

Continuing with the previous post. What we didn't mention was that the client was also arrested and charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated and With a Detectable Amount of THC in his blood.

During the motion hearing on the illegal seizure, the officer stated that he observed the client have "restricted pupils" and he was stopped in front of a known drug user’s residence. The Court found that the officer not only did not have a basis to continue with the detention of the client, the officer did not have a basis to believe the client was under the influence of drugs or that he had recently used drugs.

We have had a recent string of cases in which the state does not even bother to argue the motion, this was one of those times. The state conceded the motion and simply moved to dismiss the charges.

It was a good day.

OWRCS #2 - Delta 9-THC present - Dane County- Case dismissed

At first blush, the case looked difficult. Client had THC in his system making the charge a strict liability offense. If the government could prove the operation of the vehicle, they can get a conviction.

The police report indicated that the office pulled into a gas station and the client's vehicle was running, in a parking stall and the client was passed out. The officer indicated she had to pound on the window to wake the client.

The video showed a much different story. The officer never went up to the window. The client opened the car door for the officer. We had the officer in a clear misstatement. Attorney Chirafisi filed a motion to suppress the stop of the vehicle.

The state didn't even want a hearing on the case. They conceded the motion without a hearing. Can't really do much better than that.