By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — A local man was arrested for the third time in less than two months for alleged drunk driving, with one of the incidents involving him driving his pickup truck into a ditch.
Isaac Rose, 21, of Springfield, Vermont, was charged with driving under the influence and two counts of violating his conditions of release on March 26.
According to a report by the Springfield Police Department, at about 11:24 p.m. officers witnessed Rose in “physical control of a motor vehicle upon a public highway.”
“Indicators of impairment were observed,” the report stated.
Rose was taken into custody and processed at the Springfield Police Department. This is where he was found to have conditions of release that prohibited him from buying, consuming or possessing alcohol, stemming from arrests for DUIs on March 7 and Feb. 8.
He was issued a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court, Criminal Division, Windsor Unit in Woodstock, Vermont, on April 15 at 8:30 a.m.
On March 7, Rose was arrested and charged with DUI and vehicle operation-careless or negligence when he allegedly drove his pickup truck into a ditch in the area of Reservoir Road.
A concerned citizen told police that the driver of the vehicle was intoxicated, stumbling and smelt like alcohol. The responding officer found Rose sitting in the driver’s seat of the truck, which was running, and he approached the passenger side window. Rose allegedly tried to open the window, pressed all the buttons on the driver’s side armrest instrument panel, and then when the passenger door unlocked, he crawled out.
He admitted to officers that he had “a few” drinks in a slurred voice. The officer stated in an affidavit that he could see that his eyes were bloodshot and watery, and he knew Rose from past law enforcement encounters.
Rose said that he had a few beers at a friend’s house, and then refused the field sobriety tests, breath tests and blood tests. While talking to police, Rose allegedly continued to slur his words, and there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from him. When he was arrested, he had a Bud Light bottle cap in his pocket, and there was also a sealed bottle of Bud Light on the rear passenger side floor.
Rose was arraigned at the Vermont Superior Court, Criminal Division, Windsor Unit March 18.
Just over a month later, on Feb. 8 at 8:49 p.m. Sgt. Richard King of the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department was traveling south on River Street when he came behind Rose stopped at a red light. When the light changed, Rose allegedly veered right when entering the intersection to avoid hitting a raised median. Officer King saw the truck head east on Main Street, and Rose allegedly drifted onto the shoulder and “jerk left” where he came in contact with the center lines.
King followed Rose into the left turn lane onto Summer Street and the light was red. A green left turn arrow lit up, but Rose didn’t move and waited for the green light for through traffic and proceeded to turn.
After failing a field sobriety test from the vehicle, Rose took a breathalyzer test registering at .177%. He was arrested and taken to the Springfield Police Department to be processed. He told police he was out having an appetizer and had two beers in 30 minutes before he was pulled over. He told officers he started drinking “before 8,” had three to four beers, and stopped drinking just before he left the restaurant.
Rose then provided another breath sample that came back at .204, and after a second test it was .198%. The legal limit in Vermont is 0.08%.
Rose was charged with DUI and a misdemeanor charge for negligent driving on a public highway.
According to the Vermont Judiciary website, Rose has a discovery hearing scheduled for May 22 at 10 a.m. for two separate case numbers. A jury draw is scheduled for May 29 at 8:30 a.m. On March 18, Rose was assigned legal representation by Attorney Joseph A. Strain through a Vermont Superior Court Public Defender Order, which Rose must pay a total of $50 for.
If convicted of three DUIs, Rose could face a lifetime suspension of his driver’s license. In Vermont, drivers can apply to have their license reinstated with proof of three years sobriety from an accredited alcohol counseling program.
A third DUI is also a felony and carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and/or a $2,500 fine.
