Man Charged with Murder after Mobile Shooting
Edward Lee Bonner turned himself over to authorities on Tuesday, July 30th despite telling reporters gathered at Mobile Police Department headquarters that he was not responsible for the deal of Obrian Sanptor Russell. Russell was fatally shot on the 3100 block of Dauphin Street on April 28th and the case remains the second longest running unsolved homicide case of the year.
Bonner, 26, was escorted to a waiting police car and taken to Mobile County Metro Jail where he will be booked on one count of murder in the death of Russell. MPD spokeswoman Ashley Rains reported that evidence points to an altercation taking place between Russell and Bonner on the night of April 28th. Whether or not Bonner and Russell knew each other is still being investigated at this time.
Police records show that Bonner has a history of criminal charges in Mobile County that date back to 2008. He previously had been arrested on charges of breaking and entering a vehicle, receiving stolen property, and criminal trespassing.
Edward Lee Bonner is also being held in Mobile County Metro Jail by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office on one count of promoting prison contra band and one count attempting to commit a controlled substance crime.
Detectives are still actively investigating the shooting.
- Published in Criminal Law
Woman Charged with DUI after Fatal Gulf Shores Accident
The Gulf Shores Police Department continues to investigate a fatal traffic accident that claimed the life of a Calera resident over the weekend. Authorities report that Linda C. Rutherford, 64, was walking across East Beach Boulevard in the 500 block when she was struck by a Ford car. The driver was identified as Vicky H. Johnston of Satsuma. Johnston faces driving under the influence of alcohol charges in what Gulf Shores police are calling an ongoing investigation.
Police officers and paramedics were called to the scene just after 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and arrived to find the victim had suffered severe trauma injuries. According to Chief Ed Delmore, Rutherford was transported to South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in grave condition and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
After conducting an initial assessment of the scene, detectives determined that Johnston, 52, was possibly under the influence of alcohol. She was later arrested and booked at the Gulf Shores Police Department Jail for DUI, according to authorities.
Detectives are asking for any persons who may have witnessed the collision to contact Sgt. Jason Woodruff at (251) 968-1238 or Detective Chad Lambert at (251) 968-4206.
- Published in DUI
Huntsville Police Receive New DUI Task Force Van
The police in Huntsville were proud to unveil their upgraded DUI Task Force van which is significantly larger and nearly 20 years newer than the previous one. Police spokesman Harry Hobbs said the new van, that was donated by Huntsville Emergency Medical Services, Inc., has been redesigned for its new purpose and will be much more functional during checkpoints. It will now also be able to hold multiple prisoners inside and be easier to move around in.
Before an eligible driver reaches the truck, three field sobriety tests, as well as a portable breath test are administered during checkpoints. If these test results show that a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they are arrested and taken to the new DUI truck. Once inside, drivers are read the terms of the implied consent and take two breathalyzer tests. Police use the lowest reading to determine whether the person is under the influence of alcohol, which under Alabama law is .08.
The city of Huntsville has reported the most DUI arrests in the state of Alabama for the last 15 years. The police department typically announces these DUI check points to the public. When approaching safety checkpoints, drivers are typically asked to provide a current driver’s license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration. Additionally, police said seat belt compliance for bother driver and all passengers will be checked.
- Published in DUI
Alabama Drivers Paid to Participate in DUI Testing
For drivers in St. Clair and Bibb Counties, coming across a road block while driving under the influence actually resulted in some extra cash rather than jail time. Researchers of the nonprofit organization, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, were actively looking for volunteers to donate blood and saliva samples as part of a drunk driving survey this past weekend. The institute even constructed large signs on the sides of roads in the two counties hoping to attract drivers to participate in the “paid volunteer survey.”
Drivers who provided a saliva sample received $10 in compensation and those donating blood samples received $50. Off-duty police officers collected these samples anonymously so no one could be found guilty for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs by volunteering in the paid study.
This study was paid for by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. While only five roadblocks were set up this weekend in each of the two counties, the NHTSA hopes to set up 60 more throughout the country before October.
The Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation conducted a similar study in 2007 which surveyed drivers on late weekend hours. The 2007 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug use by Drivers found that there was a large decline in drivers with a blood-alcohol level at or above the legal limit. It also found that that the most common drugs found in nighttime drivers were marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine.
- Published in DUI