A Georgia man is facing several charges, including DUI, after Cherokee County officers arrested him at the end of a chase on a Thursday evening, earlier this month.

Deputies observed Rodney Gene Rickman. of Rome, GA., driving recklessly on Alabama Highway 9 north of Cedar Bluff.  Rickman was driving at an extremely high rate of speed when he fled north on Alabama Highway 35 through Gaylesville and continued for several miles in an attempt to elude police.

Authorities said he eventually pulled his car over and continued to flee on foot when he was finally arrested.  Rickman, 43, is being charged with possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence, attempting to elude, and assisting arrest.  Deputies Nick Vaughn and Michael Green transported Rickman to the Cherokee County Detention Facility according to Cherokee County Sherrif Jeff Shaver.

The most frequently asked question I face when regarding DUI cases is should I take the test?  The short answer is no.  There are many reasons for not taking the implied consent test and they all have to do with possible defenses in the case.    There are obviously consequences for not taking the implied consent test with the main one being that your privilege to drive in the State of Alabama will be suspended for a period of time regardless of whether or not you are convicted of the DUI.

If you refuse to take the test then the State of Alabama must rely on the officers observations and testimony as to the way you were driving and any inability or impairment that he noted as well as your performance of any field sobriety tests.

Gas prices broke record highs for the first quarter of the year, putting strain on many household budgets, but that won’t stop the large number of Americans who can’t wait to get out of town and travel this holiday weekend. Nationwide, about 30.7 million people are expected to travel this Memorial Day weekend. That represents a 1.2 percent increase over 2011. Traffic on Dothan roads and highways will be heavier than usual, and that means police will be out and about, checking everything from seatbelts to impaired drivers.

To avoid an accident or ticket this holiday weekend, try to be extra cautious, and expect traffic congestion. Allow extra time to get to your destination, since back-ups are inevitable with so many motorists on the roads. Read-end collisions caused primarily by distracted driving, speeding, and following too closely are the most common accidents that occur in heavy traffic.

With the large number of motorists traveling through Alabama, police will be closely monitoring for drunk drivers. Memorial Day is commonly celebrated with parties and barbeques, and alcohol is often part of the festivities. Police will be out in force, cracking down on suspicious drivers. With extra officers on the streets, it is a good idea to have a designated driver if you will be drinking.

If you are arrested for driving under the influence, whether it is over the holiday weekend or at any time, you need a sophisticated criminal defense attorney on your side. An experienced lawyer will work hard to keep you out of court and perhaps get the charges against you dropped altogether.

Have a safe Memorial Day weekend!

The understaffed Dothan Police Department has sworn in 7 new officers. With the addition of these new officers, the Department headcount is now 159 officers, just 6 officers shy of a full staff. Two of these new recruits will be on the streets within the next few weeks, but the remaining five will spend three months in the police academy in Selma before they will be out on patrol.

Dothan Police Chief Greg Benton says that when the new recruits are out of the police academy, residents of Dothan will definitely notice. “It’s actually going to be more people in patrol. You’ll see more officers in the street which in turn will reduce crime just by visibility. It will also give us a little more lead way to do the things we need to do as far as proactive policing goes,” he says.

With additional officers patrolling the streets, the possibility of being ticketed for speeding or getting arrested for DUI are higher. And no matter what the charges, there is a chance that you may be stopped for unjustified reasons. It is important to seek the counsel of an experienced and aggressive Dothan criminal defense attorney if you are facing charges of any kind. There is always the possibility that a law enforcement official made a mistake, or they may have violated your rights. This may be reason enough to have your case dismissed and your charges dropped.

To read the original article, click here.

On March 17, Dothan Technology Center Principal Gregory Allen was arrested and taken to Dothan City Jail on a DUI charge.

According to the police report, Allen’s vehicle struck two motorcycles while traveling westbound on East Main Street. Neither of the motorcycle drivers suffered serious injuries, but one of the them was taken to the hospital. When police arrived at the scene, they stated that they could smell alcohol on Allen. Allen was unable to perform field sobriety tests, and was arrested and taken to the city jail. In the car with Allen at the time of the accident were his two grandchildren.

Unfortunately, Allen was arrested a second time in the same month. On March 29, police arrested Allen and transported him to jail and charged him with two misdemeanor counts of third-degree assault. Dothan Police Sgt. Rachel David stated that the two new assault charges are related to the DUI accident. David also confirmed Allen was charged with assault for the injuries suffered by each of the two motorcycle riders.

Allen has been placed on paid administrative leave while his case is being investigated.

Anyone who has been accused of a DUI or assault knows the pain and stress the accusation alone can bring. A conviction can be devastating and may forever alter your life’s course. With so much at stake, it is imperative to have an aggressive, experienced attorney on your side who will do everything it takes to protect your freedom.

• To read the original articles, click here .