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Digest
Sleeping in truck brings a charge of DUI
By TIMES WIRES
Published February 18, 2007
GULFPORT - An off-duty St. Petersburg police officer was arrested for driving under the influence after he was found asleep at the wheel of a pickup Saturday morning, police said. Officer Steven J. Pugh, a 20-year veteran of the force and a member of the canine unit, had been drinking alcohol at a birthday party in Gulfport before he went to his truck, turned on the heater of the vehicle, and either passed out or fell asleep, according to a St. Petersburg police report. A resident saw Pugh parked near the 5400 block of Shore Boulevard and flagged down a Gulfport police officer, who arrested him. St. Petersburg police internal affairs is investigating, according to the report. Man hit ex-girlfriend, her child, police say TAMPA - A Tampa man was arrested early Saturday on charges that he beat his ex-girlfriend and her 3-year-old and held a knife to the woman's throat so she wouldn't call the police. Police said Joseph L. Buckine, 44, showed up at the woman's house on the 3600 block of E Mohawk Avenue and started an argument. He threw her television and video recorder out a window before striking her on the head and torso with his fist, authorities said. When she tried to call police, he put a knife to her neck and threatened her, authorities said. He then struck the child with the telephone, authorities said. He was held without bond Saturday at Orient Road Jail. Man is accused of buying drugs illegally TAMPA - Police say a Thonotosassa man was illegally buying drugs with fake prescriptions for more than a month until he was caught Friday inside a pharmacy on Busch Boulevard. Carlos Peitri, 45, was arrested on 37 drug-related felonies after a pharmacist recognized him and notified police. Police say that Peitri bought Oxycodone, Percocet and Vicodin from several pharmacies around Tampa with the intent to sell them. Peitri was released Saturday on his own recognizance.
[Last modified February 18, 2007, 00:38:41]
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by Justin
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02/19/07 02:35 AM
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Yes I am glad that the police man was arrested. The law stats that if you are in your car and have you keys you will be DUI. You can be sleeping the in trunk of your car if you wanted to but if you keys are on you or in the vechile you will be DUI.
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by J McF
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02/18/07 07:42 PM
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Alcohol is an evil DRUG, It dose nothing but cause problems for users and non users, I hope he looses his job and anyone else who gets a dui should be punished, I learned the hard way, But I am sober 5 years now and that is the only way to live,sober
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by Bill B
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02/18/07 07:34 PM
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If your keys are in the ignition, of the car (even if its not running) u are considered driving the veh. What he "should have done" is put the keys in the front of the veh and climbed in the back OR leave in the back and slept in the front.
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by John
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02/18/07 06:01 PM
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You drink. You get behind the wheel. You go to jail. Very simple.
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by Jim
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02/18/07 05:10 PM
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Don't see how he can be tried for DUI. If he was asleep and not caught driving I'm betting he will get off.
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by Tom
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02/18/07 03:37 PM
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The article doesnt say if he was actually drove a bit and then pulled off the road. Either way, the law is the law. Im sure this officer has arrested someone for the same thing. Of course, he will get off anyway.
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by Chuck
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02/18/07 03:11 PM
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I bet he wishes he was a cop up in Citrus County. He would not have been arrested.
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by bh
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02/18/07 02:38 PM
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i knew someone who got a dui while walking a bike home.laws need to be revisited.i thought the "D" stood for driving.waste of tax money to arrest, investigate, defend, and court time all for a stupid arrest.couldn't he have waited til he drove off?
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by Donald
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02/18/07 01:49 PM
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Brenda, unfortunately, one doesn't need to be driving to be charged with a DUI offense - I would like to see more "facts", however, on the surface I agree, sleeping is much better than driving and should be "encouraged", not a citeable offense !
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by john
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02/18/07 01:28 PM
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The law says you are still in control of your vehicle, he could wake up and take off, He knows the law and has probably taken people to jail for the same thing, if you ever do the same thing get in the back seat and hide the keys.
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by Don
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02/18/07 12:52 PM
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Driving is not necessary to be charged with DUI, you simply must be in the drivers seat with the keys in the ignition, it doesn't matter if you're comatose and the vehicle isn't moving.
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by Brenda
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02/18/07 12:17 PM
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Any person who makes the choice of sleeping in their vehicle rather than putting me and my family at risk by diving drunk.....deserves a reward not punishment...He wasn't DRIVING which is necessary for DWI or DUI...
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by Mike V
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02/18/07 12:12 PM
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Hey GB I bet you've been arrested??? Do you lose your job for DUI off the job??? NO ! You have something against cops, but when you need them????
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by GB
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02/18/07 11:38 AM
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He should be fired and prosecuted. It's a stupid law, but he shouldn't get preferential treatment. Police should have to live by the same rules as the rest of us.
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by James
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02/18/07 10:42 AM
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He was released RoR? 37 drug fellonies? Somebody is snitching, 37 felonies all at one time, should not be released even if he does try to work with the police
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by Marty
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02/18/07 09:53 AM
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I hope the policeman keeps his job. I have never understood why sleeping it off in your car is illegal. I think he acted responsibly.
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by G.W.
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02/18/07 07:09 AM
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The Sheriff of Citrus County needs to follow the example of the Gulfport Police Department and the arresting officer of the off duty St. Pete police officer. Gulfport P-D, you did your job, thank you. Dawsy needs to take lessons from Gulfport P.D.
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