Riverside Police Chief arrested for DUI
Posted By Gold & Witham on Mar 23, 2010 2:00pm PDT
Former Riverside Police Chief Russ Leach was charged with DUI on monday following a traffic collision which occured last month. The CHP reported that Leach had been drinking and taking prescription medications on February 8th. It is unlawful in California to drive under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs including medication. His city owned vehicle was caught on tape running a red light and colliding into a "low-profile object" that flattened his tires and damaged the front end of his car. Leach was not arrested at the scene, but was instead driven home, despite evidence of intoxication. Riverside Police Department is now the subject of an internal investigation to determine whether he was afforded special treatment. Leach resigned a few days after the incident. It is normal procedure for a suspect to be detained after a DUI accident and taken into custody for a blood or breath test. It is unclear why Leach was driven home instead of being arrested after the incident.
In an unrelated incident, an on-duty Colorado State Trooper was also arrested for DUI on monday after several people called the police to report that the State Patrol Vehicle was weaving erratically. David Dolan was arrested while on duty and in uniform. Dolan is a 21-year veteran of the State Patrol. He was reportedly placed on unpaid leave pending the investigation.
DUI can happen to almost anyone including police chiefs and on-duty cops. Los Angeles and Orange County DUI lawyers, Nigel Witham and Jeffrey Gold have represented people from all walks of life including lawyers, doctors, police officers, firemen, priests, actors and sports personalities. If this has happened to you, please call us at 562 938 7771.