Latest news with #DUI
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Anchorage cyclist struck and killed; driver arrested on manslaughter and DUI charges, police say
Jun. 20—A woman who struck and killed a cyclist on C Street in Anchorage on Thursday night has been arrested on charges including manslaughter and driving under the influence, Anchorage police said. Officers were called to C Street near 64th Avenue shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday for a report of a collision with injuries, the Anchorage police said in a statement Friday. Police determined that while driving in a Mazda SUV, Anchorage resident Stephanie Dill had struck the adult male cyclist. The man was declared dead on the scene despite life-saving efforts, Anchorage police said. C Street was closed between Dowling Road and West 64th Avenue for a period of time Thursday night while police processed the scene. Asked for additional details, Anchorage police spokesperson Christopher Barraza said the department had "no other information to share about the cyclist." Dill was arrested on charges of manslaughter, driving under the influence, refusing a chemical test, reckless driving and bribery, police said. She was remanded to Hiland Mountain Correctional Center. Online court records show that charging documents in the case are pending, and that Dill was scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Daily Mail
What comes next for Karen Read? Acquitted of murder and exalted to social media stardom... but not free from the courtroom just yet
Karen Read is not going to jail for the murder of her Boston cop boyfriend John O'Keefe, but she's far from out of the woods or out of the courtroom when it comes to the controversial case. Read 45, sobbed on Wednesday after being acquitted of murder for her police officer boyfriend in a retrial that has gripped and divided America. But the happy tears in the Massachusetts criminal courtroom merely closed a chapter on the ordeal rather than the whole book with Read still a long way from returning to a normal life. Now legal eagles and PR executives have weighed in on what comes next for the financial analyst. DUI Conviction While Read was cleared of the most serious charge stemming from the January 29, 2022 death she still faced some legal repercussions. The financial analyst was convicted on the lesser charge of drunk driving, which carries a maximum penalty of 2.5 years for a first offense. However, at sentencing she was handed one year of probation and ordered to take alcohol awareness classes. Probation for the offense in Massachusetts typically includes 30 hours of community service. The penalty is the standard one handed down to a first time offender. Many high-profile defendants walk away with book deals to give a first-person account of what really happened behind the scenes. Although it is unclear if Read has been offered one, or if she's even interested in one, it could continue to help her star rise after becoming a household name due to the trial. Netflix and HBO have already covered her trial in documentaries, leaving the window wide open for Read to join one. Criminal jurors have already started coming forward with their takes and opinions on the case and Read could very much do the same now that she can no longer face a murder charge for O'Keefe's death. However, if Read does choose to step into the spotlight further, any money she makes off the endeavors could be garnished if she loses her upcoming civil case with O'Keefe's family and has to pay damages. Civil Case Read's acquittal is far from the end of the grueling legal process and she is now facing another round in court. Read and her legal team are gearing up for a civil trial - a $50,000 wrongful death lawsuit filed by O'Keefe's family against her and two local bars. 'After a not-guilty verdict against Read, a civil case is all the family has left if they want to seek justice,' New Mexico-based lawyer, John W. Day, told 'The O'Keefe family will want this civil trial to move forward quickly while people are still talking about the verdict.' No date has been set for the trial yet, as it was put on pause while Read dealt with her criminal case. The case was filed against Read and two local bars - CF McCarthy's and Waterfall Bar and Grille - in August 2024 in the Plymouth Superior Court in Brockton and the family is seeking at least $50,000 in damages for O'Keefe's death. They argue Read engaged in reckless conduct that resulted in O'Keefe's death and that the bars, 'negligently served alcohol to an intoxicated person.' Many experts told Daily Mail that it would be beneficial for Read to push through the civil case as early as possible as her stronger-than-ever fanbase is ready to defend her. Tom Flaws, a Boston-based lawyer with the firm Altman Nussbaum Shunnarah, told Daily Mail that the O'Keefe family has a 'much lower bar to prove' that Read killed their son compared to the state in the criminal case. But that doesn't mean it will be an easy win for the heartbroken family, especially as Read's fanbase stays strong and criminal jurors continue to come out and cast doubt that the 45-year-old did it. 'That's a problem for the plaintiffs of the civil case,' Flaws said. Whereas, in a criminal trial, the State of Massachusetts had to prove Read performed a criminal act beyond a reasonable doubt. In the civil case, the O'Keefe family only has to prove that their version of events is plausible based on the preponderance of the evidence. If they can prove there is a more than a 50 percent chance of probability, they can win. 'It's a much lower burden,' Flaws, who has 20 years experience in the field, said. 'It's a bigger challenge for her [Read],' Florida-based lawyer, Emmanuel Galimidi, told Galimidi, who owns his own firm Galimidi Law, also believes the criminal jurors' opinions will influence her civil case. 'I don't see how they don't,' he said. 'That would influence me.' Considering how big the case became, Galimidi thinks there will be a good chance the local jurors picked for the civil trial will have at least heard of or be familiar with the case and will know the verdict of the criminal trial. 'Jury selection in very important,' the lawyer, who has 22 years of law experience and worked both on the plaintiffs and defendants' sides, said. 'In this one, it's much more important.' He also expects, regardless of the verdict, there will be an appeal made 'due to the nature of the case.' Tom Flaws, a Boston-based lawyer, told that the O'Keefe family has a 'much lower bar to prove' that Read killed their son compared to the state in the criminal case. Eric Schiffer said Read needs to rapidly change her reputation before entering another courtroom Obstacles The biggest difference - and perhaps an obstacle for Read - will be her deposition. Unlike her criminal case, she will have to take the stand and it will be the first time jurors and crime junkies alike will hear her side of the story directly from the source. Just because prosecutors couldn't prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Read hit O'Keefe with her car, it does not mean she did not. Her late boyfriend's law enforcement officer status only increased scrutiny on her actions. 'It plays a role [in her reputation],' Schiffer said. 'It's hard to undo.' Schiffer said Read will need to be 'extremely' careful while on the stand during her deposition to keep her reputation intact. 'She's probably better off doing [the trial] now, coming off the win,' Eric Schiffer, who helps high-profile people fix their reputations, told 'She needs to take every word seriously. Things can go boom.' Despite the buzz around her upcoming deposition, Galimidi doesn't expect to hear anything he hasn't already. 'I don't expect there to be any big revelation here,' he said. Damages Although the O'Keefe family filed for at least $50,000 in damages, they could be awarded a far higher sum. The question comes down to who can pay it for both the bars and Read. Although a jury can decide how much each defendant has to pay, if they don't have it, the family could be chasing it for years, especially with Read, who is a private citizen. 'Remember that this is how the Goldman family and Nicole Simpson's family went after OJ Simpson after he was acquitted or murder,' Day told 'They got a $33million judgment against OJ, but then had to try to collect on it.' 'One issue the family could face: What can they get from Karen Read, or is she judgment-proof? Meaning, what assets does she have that the family could get in a civil judgment?' A potential asset they family could garnish from is if Read is offered a book deal. They could tap into her royalties for years. Another way they could get money from Read, if she doesn't have the damages amount, is to garnish her wages. There are state limitations on what percentage can be taken out of her paychecks. 'You can try and garnish,' Galimidi said. 'That's entirely possible.' Galimidi suspects the O'Keefe family may or may not have bought in the two bars as collateral, as the establishments more than likely have insurance plans that will help cover them and offer a higher damages amount to the family. However, the locally-owned establishments might not have much in insurance, compared to big-named chained. 'There's a difference suing IBM versus Joe's Computer Shop [down the street],' the Florida lawyer said. He also believes the family has a good case against the bars for serving her an abundance of alcohol. 'It's a strong case against the bars,' he told 'It's a strong one for the plaintiffs because of her blood-alcohol [level].' However, Flaws said the plaintiffs still have to 'prove that she hit him' to prevail. Reputation Rehabilitation As the verdict was read out on Wednesday, cheers were heard outside the courthouse from her hoard of supporters, however experts warn Read has a long way to go before she can shake off the controversy. Read made headlines throughout the trial for her outlandish behavior during the case, which included winking at cameras and laughing and joking with her counsel in court. Schiffer said Read's name is a 'punch line' at the moment and she absolutely have to fix her public image before stepping back in the court. 'She's been shredded online,' Schiffer told He thinks it's 'critical' for Read to rapidly patch up the 'scraps' of her reputation prior to her civil trial as the burden of proof is much, much lower compared to a criminal case. 'That's her biggest challenge,' he said. If she loses the civil case, Schiffer said her reputation will experience 'spontaneous combustion.' 'It's not a death blow, but it will hobble her,' he said. And even if she wins, her reputation won't magically pop back either as many will accuse her of being of being 'famous for the wrong reasons,' he said. 'It's a good case, but it could be worse,' Galimidi said.
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Colorado State Patrol sets up sobriety checkpoints in Douglas County for summer DUI enforcement
The Colorado State Patrol will be out Friday night, looking for anyone drinking and driving. State troopers are conducting sobriety checkpoints all summer and this latest checkpoint will be in Douglas County off E-470. Troopers say this area was chosen based on the history of DUI-related crashes and arrests. Colorado State Patrol CSP said the purpose of these checkpoints is not to make arrests but to promote safety and prevention. You drink and drive, you pay the fine. Troopers say one in three fatal crashes in Colorado involves a driver under the influence. DUIs are not just drinking-related but also involve cannabis and drugs. If you are caught, even the first time, you will have to pay at least $13,000 in court fees and fines, face jail time, have your vehicle impounded, and have your license taken away. Friday's sobriety checkpoint will begin around 9 p.m. and last until 2 a.m. CSP reminds drivers that if they see anyone driving under the influence, they should call *277 and give the dispatcher the location, direction they are heading, along with the make and model of the vehicle.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
Investigator and Jurors Speak Out About Karen Read Murder Trial in Aftermath of Not Guilty Verdict
Two jurors and the lead investigator in the murder trial of Karen Read have come forward to comment about the case since a jury returned a not guilty verdict earlier this week. Read, 45, was charged with second-degree murder by authorities who said she intentionally hit Boston police officer John O'Keefe with her car after a night of drinking in the suburbs. The high-profile case culminated in a not guilty verdict on murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene charges Wednesday. The jury found Read guilty of operating a vehicle while under the influence. The trial has centered in part on lead investigator Michael Proctor, who defense attorneys described as biased against Read from the beginning. The State Police Trial Board found Proctor guilty of sending crude and defamatory text messages about Read while leading the investigation into her. He was fired and has drawn ire from Read supporters who believe he played a key role in a cover-up to frame her. Proctor told NBC's Dateline that the idea he is corrupt and framed Read is 'a ridiculous accusation.' He specifically said an accusation that he cracked Read's taillight to make it look like she backed into O'Keefe is 'absolutely not true.' 'I laugh because it's such a ridiculous accusation,' Proctor told the program. 'There's not one piece of evidence or fact to support that because it did not happen.' The judge in the case announced via court papers Wednesday that the jurors' names would be sealed from public view due to safety concerns. But one of the jurors, who identified himself only as Jason in an interview with TMZ, said he did not believe Read collided with O'Keefe. He also said he did not think investigators planted taillight pieces at the scene to frame Read. 'I don't really know if there was a cover-up or not. I know that's the big conspiracy about it, but I don't really know. All I know is there were a lot of holes in their investigation,' the juror said. Another juror, Paula Prado, told local news stations her mind changed about the case over the course of the last three weeks. At first she thought Read was guilty of manslaughter, but her opinion changed as the case progressed. 'As the weeks passed by, I just realized there were too many holes that we couldn't fill. And there's nothing that put her at the scene in our opinion, despite just dropping John O'Keefe off,' Prado told media. Massachusetts State Police said in a statement that it 'extends its sincerest condolences to the loved ones of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe.' The statement said the 'events of the last three years have challenged the department to review its actions and improve accountability and oversight. Under my direction as colonel, the state police has and will continue to improve in these regards. Our focus remains on delivering excellent police services that reflect the value of professionalism and maintain public trust,' Colonel Geoffrey Noble said in the statement. The jurors, state police, and Proctor are not the first to speak out about the verdict. Some of the key witnesses in the trial released a joint statement Wednesday in which they called the not guilty ruling 'a devastating miscarriage of justice.' The joint statement was issued by several people, including Brian Albert, who owned the home where the party took place, and Jennifer McCabe, Albert's sister-in-law, who was with Read and O'Keefe on the night of O'Keefe's death. Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey said only: 'The jury has spoken.'
Associated Press
a day ago
- Associated Press
Investigator and jurors speak out about Karen Read murder trial in aftermath of not guilty verdict
Two jurors and the lead investigator in murder trial of Karen Read have come forward to comment about the case since a jury returned a not guilty verdict earlier this week. Read, 45, was charged with second-degree murder by authorities who said she intentionally hit Boston police officer John O'Keefe with her car after a night of drinking in the suburbs. The high-profile case culminated in a not guilty verdict on murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene charges Wednesday. The jury found Read guilty of operating a vehicle while under the influence. The trial has centered in part on lead investigator Michael Proctor, who defense attorneys described as biased against Read from the beginning. The State Police Trial Board found Proctor guilty of sending crude and defamatory text messages about Read while leading the investigation into her. He was fired and has drawn ire from Read supporters who believe he played a key role in a cover-up to frame her. Proctor told NBC's 'Dateline' that the idea he is corrupt and framed Read is a 'ridiculous' accusation. He specifically said an accusation that he cracked Read's taillight to make it look like she backed into O'Keefe is 'absolutely not' true. 'I laugh because it's such a ridiculous accusation,' Proctor told the program. 'There's not one piece of evidence or fact to support that because it did not happen.' The judge in the case announced via court papers Wednesday that the jurors' names would be sealed from public view due to safety concerns. But one of the jurors, who identified himself only as 'Jason' in an interview with TMZ, said he did not believe Read collided with O'Keefe. He also said he did not think investigators planted taillight pieces at the scene to frame Read. 'I don't really know if there was a cover-up or not. I know that's the big conspiracy about it but I don't really know. All I know is there was a lot of holes in their investigation,' the juror said. Another juror, Paula Prado, told local news stations her mind changed about the case over the course of the last three weeks. At first, she thought Read was guilty of manslaughter, but her opinion changed as the case progressed. 'As the weeks passed by, I just realized there was too many holes that we couldn't fill. And there's nothing that put her at the scene in our opinion, despite just dropping John O'Keefe off,' Prado told media. Massachusetts State Police said in a statement that it extends its 'sincerest condolences to the loved ones of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe.' The statement said the the events of the last three years have 'challenged' the department to reviews it actions and improve accountability and oversight. 'Under my direction as colonel, the state police has, and will continue to, improve in these regards. Our focus remains on delivering excellent police services that reflect the value of professionalism and maintain public trust,' Colonel Geoffrey Noble said in the statement. The jurors, state police and Proctor are not the first to speak out about the verdict. Some of the key witnesses in the trial released a joint statement Wednesday in which they called the not guilty ruling a 'devastating miscarriage of justice.' The joint statement was issued by several people including Brian Albert, who owned the home where the party took place, and Jennifer McCabe, Albert's sister-in-law, who was with Read and O'Keefe on the night of O'Keefe's death. Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey said only: 'The jury has spoken.'
