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Elena Accetturo of Broward County, Florida Arrested on DUI Charges

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Elena-Accetturo-221x300Elena Accetturo of Broward County, Florida was arrested on July 21 after she allegedly caused an accident while under the influence in West Palm Beach. The crash left her husband with a shattered leg.

Accetturo, 29, faces charges for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, DUI with property damage, driving with a suspended license, and battery on an officer after she allegedly punched a deputy in the stomach. She was held at Palm Beach County Jail and was released on Tuesday after posting a $12,000 bond. It is unclear if she has acquired an attorney.

According to the arrest report, the alleged crash occurred in suburban West Palm Beach at 62nd Drive North and North Jog Road. Details of the crash have not been released, but it reportedly involved a second vehicle. Her husband, Anthony Accetturo, was the only one who suffered serious injuries. His leg reportedly shattered in several places and will likely to be permanently disfigured.

Deputies at the scene reported that Accetturo appeared incoherent and was unable to answer questions. She was taken to Wellington Regional Medical Center where a nurse reportedly found a small bag of cocaine in her possession. Police confiscated the bag as evidence. After she was informed that she was being arrested, Accetturo allegedly attempted to punch an officer in the stomach. Her hand struck the officer’s body armor, causing her “a great deal of paint,” the report said.

Accetturo refused to submit to a breath test. This is the second time she has refused to give consent for the test in less than a year; she was arrested for a DUI in December and refused to take a breath test then, too, and that caused her license to be suspended.

Chelsea-Halter-240x300Another DUI arrest was reported in North Miami earlier this month. Chelsea Halter of Biscayne Park, Florida was arrested on July 12 for driving in the wrong direction on the Palmetto Expressway and causing a chain reaction of car accidents while under the influence of alcohol.

Halter, 24, was charged with reckless driving, DUI causing injury and property damage, leaving the scene of a crash, and two misdemeanors for possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana. She was held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and was later released on bond. It is unclear if she has hired an attorney.

According to the arrest report, the alleged crash occurred after 2 a.m. on July 12 on the Palmetto Expressway. Halter purportedly drove east on westbound lanes of the expressway for almost 30 minutes before Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers were able to stop her. Four vehicles crashed as they attempted to avoid a head-on collision. None of the drivers involved were injured, but one required medical attention for neck and back pain.

The FHP officer who stopped Halter reported a “strong odor” of alcohol in her car. He wrote in the report that Halter had glassy eyes and there was a bag of marijuana and a liquor bottle visible in her car. Halter refused to submit to a breath test, but she reportedly managed to complete one field sobriety exercise before refusing to do more.

Source: 7.26.17 Elena Accetturo of Broward County, Florida Arrested on DUI Charges.pdf

Miami-Dade Science Teacher Saryna Parker Arrested on DUI and Other Charges

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Saryna-Parker-240x300Eight-grade science teacher Saryna Parker of South Dade Middle School was arrested on March 19 for allegedly causing a rear-end crash while driving under the influence with her 10-year-old son in the car. Parker, 43, also purportedly kicked the police officer who arrested her in the groin.

She faces multiple charges, including DUI, DUI with property damage, child abuse, and battery of a police officer. She was booked into jail and was later released on an unspecified bond. News sources did not say if she has hired an attorney.

According to the arrest report, the incident occurred on South Dixie Highway near SW 182nd Avenue in Homestead. Parker was reportedly driving a Cadillac with her son in the backseat when she crashed into the back of a van. No one was injured in the crash.

The responding police officer reported that Parker’s speech was slurred and he noticed a strong odor of alcohol on her breath. Parker allegedly told the officer that she “wasn’t driving” and that she needed to use the restroom. When the officer tried to grab her arm, she reportedly “violently pulled away” and walked toward a nearby Burger King to use the restroom.

After she was detained in handcuffs, Parker consented to a series of field sobriety tests. A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was called to the scene to perform the tests. Parker failed to follow directions during the tests. The trooper made her attempt several sobriety tests, but she was reportedly swaying and unsteady on her feet. She could not keep her balance while listening to instructions.

At one point she allegedly touched the trooper on the back and told him that she felt like “kissing” him, the arrest report said. She refused to take a breath test, meaning she could have her driver’s license suspended for a year, and was placed under arrest.

Parker was “very belligerent” and “uncooperative” during her arrest. When she was placed in the back of a patrol car, she allegedly violently kicked an officer in the groin with her right leg and continued kicking the rear passenger-side door after she was secured in the vehicle.

An official from Miami-Dade Public Schools released a statement to the press saying Parker was a probationary teacher who “will be terminated.” She will never be allowed to work for Miami-Dade Schools again.

Florida has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country because of all the fatalities, especially of youth, that have been caused by DUI drivers. As a minimum requirement, anyone convicted of DUI charges will receive a combined sentence that includes academic classes on drunk driving, driver’s license suspension, community service, vehicle impoundment, fines, court costs, and payment of restitution where appropriate.

Jail time for DUI charges varies depending on the type of DUI case. A DUI causing property damage is a misdemeanor charge with jail time of up to one year. In most cases, first time DUI offenders usually only receive probation with other conditions like community service, driver’s license suspension, etc., but no jail time.

Source: 3.20.17 Parker DUI Child Abuse.pdf