Articles Posted in DUI / OUI / Drunk Driving

Michael Zupkofska, a former Rockland Selectman, was arrested last Monday in Hingham on Massachusetts OUI / DUI Charges. He was arraigned on Tuesday and charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol.

According to the Hingham Police Department, Michael Zupkofska was arrested after witnesses allegedly observed him driving over the curb as he was turning from one street to another. A Hingham Police Officer was parked nearby, who reported that he heard a loud ‘bang’, and then came across Zupkofska’s car, which had eventually stopped at the approach of the police.

Hingham Police who approached Zupkofska’s car reported that his eyes were “red and glassy and three-quarters closed”; and that he fumbled with his registration and took out his wallet in a “clumsy” manner.

David Youngclaus, 21, of Hanson, was arrested on Thursday morning on several Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charges following a crash in Abington.

Youngclaus was arraigned yesterday in Brockton District Court on several OUI / DUI Charges, including Operation of a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol and Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

According to the Abington Police Department, David Youngclaus allegedly crashed his car into a utility pole at 1:30 a.m. in Abington early Thursday morning. Abington Police who responded to the crash reported that Youngclaus needed assistance to stand when he exited the car.

Anna Missakiane, 26, of Lynn, was arrested yesterday on Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charges following a head-on collision on I-93 in Quincy. She has been charged with two counts Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol and Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

According to the Massachusetts State Police, Anna Missakiane was allegedly traveling the wrong way in the southbound lane on I-93 in Quincy with her headlights off. Her car is alleged to have struck a car driven by Faith Jorge head on, as well as a motorcycle driven by Patrick Ford. The accident resulted in both Anna Missakiane and Faith Jorge to be taken to Boston Medical Center in critical condition.

Massachusetts State Police allege that Missakiane was operating her car under the influence of alcohol, though it is not clear what led them to make that determination. Given her injuries, it is doubtful that Missakiane was asked to perform any Field Sobriety Tests.

Cisar Bargas-Lopez, 24, of Chelsea, was arrested Sunday night in Wilmington and charged with Massachusetts Drunk Driving Law Violations, including Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol, Possession of an Open Alcoholic Container, and Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

According to the Massachusetts State Police, officers and emergency crews were already on scene on I-93 tending to an accident involving 6 cars where one person was trapped in one of the vehicles. While those vehicles and occupants were being tended to, police allege that Cisar Bargas-Lopez, traveling in a Dodge Caravan, crashed into an ambulance that was in the breakdown lane.

There is no indication whether Cisar Bargas-Lopez submitted to any Field Sobriety Tests and/or an Alcohol Breath Test, but Massachusetts State Police also indicated that she may face additional criminal charges once an accident reconstruction analysis is completed.

A Massachusetts State Police Trooper, Brian Quigley, was allegedly hit by a drunk driver traveling in the opposite lane on Morrissey Boulevard in Boston this past weekend. The driver of the car Weymouth resident Cara R. Dellabarba, 28, was arrested on Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charges, including Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Personal Injury.

According to the Massachusetts State Police, Trooper Brian Quigley was traveling north on Morrissey Boulevard when a car allegedly operated by Cara R. Dellabarba came at him on the wrong side of the street. Although the Trooper reportedly turned on his wig wag lights, Dellabarba swerved her car in the direction of the trooper and ultimately struck his car.

After the accident, Cara Dellabarba reportedly submitted to Field Sobriety Tests, which she allegedly failed.

Keryn LeBlanc, 46, of Abington, was arrested on Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charges following an alleged hit and run accident late Tuesday evening. LeBlanc was arraigned in Brockton District Court on DUI charges including Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol.

According to the Abington Police Department, Keryn LeBlanc was allegedly driving in the area of the Abington Town House. It appears that no one witnessed the alleged accident, and only that LeBlanc was located in her car a few hundred yards down the road, with the car having a front end and tire damage. With regards to the other two cars, Abington Police report that no one was in them at the time.

Abington Police further allege that Keryn Leblanc submitted to a Breathalyzer Test, which yielded a reading of 0.27%, more than 3 times the legal limit of 0.08%.

Sam J. Mazur-McDonnell, of Milton, was arrested last Wednesday on Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charges following an accident in Braintree. He has been arraigned in Quincy District Court on DUI charges including Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct.

According to the Braintree Police Department, Sam J. Mazur-McDonnell allegedly struck another car at the intersection of Granite and Pond Streets. The car that was struck, a Chevrolet Tahoe, was in the intersection but the other car was not in the area. Braintree Police were then directed by a witness to a nearby residential condominium complex, where they allegedly located Mazur-McDonnell.

It appears, however, that there was a question whether Mazur-McDonnell was actually the operator of the car at the time of the crash. If so, there may be a legitimate defense as to whether the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office can prove the DUI / OUI Charges against him. Braintree Police report, however, that statements by two ‘female companions’, from Braintree and Jamaica Plain, suggested that Mazur-McDonnell was the driver.

James LaVita, 44, of Norton, was arrested on Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charges after allegedly crashing his SUV into a utility police in Norton this weekend. He will formally be arraigned on criminal charges including Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol and Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

According to the Norton Police Department, James LaVita alleged crashed into the utility pole sometime after 11:00 p.m. Friday night. At their arrival on scene, Norton Police Officers allegedly observed James LaVita and his vehicle nearby, which had heavy front end damage. The base of the utility pole had been broken off, and the pole itself was left hanging by electrical wires.

The Norton Police Department has not disclosed what evidence they based the DUI / OUI Charges on, including whether James LaVita submitted to any Field Sobriety Tests and or an Alcohol Breath Test.

Daniel Farnkoff, 82, of Dedham, was arrested this past Friday on Violation of Massachusetts Drunk Driving Laws after allegedly colliding with a Norwood Police cruiser.

According to the Norwood Police Department, a Norwood Police Officer was in the process of handing out a citation to another driver when his police car was allegedly struck by another car driven by Daniel Farnkoff. Aside from the side view mirror of the police vehicle allegedly being struck, there was no other damage or injuries.

Other Norwood Police officers responded to the area and pulled Daniel Farnkoff’s vehicle over. Following an ‘on scene investigation’, Farnkoff was placed under arrest for Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol.

Jason J. Reis, 33, of Fall River, was summonsed into court on Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charges after crashing his car this past weekend. Reis will be charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol and Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

According to Fall River Police, Reis was allegedly driving on North Main Street when he attempted to turn without signaling. As he did so, he allegedly struck another car. Following the accident, Jason Reis was taken to an area hospital to be treated for his injuries.

Simply because a person was involved in an accident is not fatal to your Massachusetts OUI / DUI case. Certainly, however, prosecutors will attempt to use each and every factor to establish evidence that your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely was impaired by alcohol or drugs.