Prosecutor drops the last of two DUI charges

Joseph Errichiello told authorities that he has a severe diabetic condition.

By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
Published December 5, 2007

Joseph Errichiello goes before the court Monday afternoon at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey. Drug tests on Errichiello, 26, were negative.
	[Stephen J. Coddington | Times]

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Prosecutors dropped the remaining charge of DUI against Joseph Errichiello on Tuesday after his urine test came back clean.

He was twice arrested for DUI in a 13-day span in September despite Breathalyzer tests that revealed a 0.00 blood-alcohol level both times.

Now both charges have been dropped after both urine tests came back negative for drugs.

Errichiello, who was profiled in Tuesday's Pasco Times, blamed a severe diabetic condition for failing both field sobriety tests.

"It's about time," he said. "I knew I did nothing wrong. I knew it was just a matter of time to prove it."

But the state isn't done with Errichiello yet. Assistant State Attorney Mike Halkitis said if a medical condition is to blame for Errichiello being pulled over, then he shouldn't be driving.

And Errichiello could still face charges in the Sept. 1 incident in which he was accused of failing to stop at a DUI checkpoint and endangering officers there.

The 26-year-old Port Richey man denied that.

"They said that I almost ran over several cops. If that's the case, I should be charged with attempted murder."

Jamal Thalji can be reached at thalji@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6236.

[Last modified December 4, 2007, 22:13:36]