I Team

I-Team: Arrest record indicates preferential treatment of drunk on-duty park ranger

Friday, October 31, 2014

New KeywordArrest records indicate preferential treatment of drunk on-duty park ranger

The DUI arrest report of an on-duty park ranger found passed out in his patrol car could indicate preferential treatment by law enforcement.

Trucker Jack Hurst has been getting flak from neighbors about the picture he took of State Park Ranger Tyson Young. Hurst found Young passed out on patrol with a beer between his legs. He then called 911 and Young was subsequently arrested.

"I did them a favor," Hurst said. "I saved someone's life. (I) probably saved his life. It could have been Joe Blow's kids and wife, some tourist out there."

On Thursday evening, the ABC7 News I-Team obtained the report from the investigation. It shows that the ranger blew a .236, nearly three times the legal limit. Officers noted Young's "strong odor of alcohol," "red and watery eyes," and "slow and slurred speech." However, Young told officers, "I'm still going to be able to be cited and released." Young was correct, as he did not go to jail like most people convicted of a DUI. CHP cited and released him to a supervisor. California Highway Patrol Lt. Cmdr. Brett Fabbri explained some qualifications for "cite and release."

"You have to not be under the influence, the person who's picking you up. (You) have to not be wanted for anything else, and have to not have been violent in the encounter or anything like that," Fabbri said.

The report shows that Young was "in a tussle" with officers and was charged with resisting arrest, in addition to the DUI. CHP data obtained by the I-Team under the Freedom of Information Act shows that Garberville CHP arrested 234 people in 2014, and the vast majority were booked in jail. Only five, including Tyson Young, were cited and released.

The Humboldt County district attorney doubts that even he would get the same preferential treatment.

"Candidly, I suspect that if I were driving under the influence tonight, and I was arrested, that I would spend time in the Humboldt County jail as well," District Attorney Paul Gallegos said.

On Tuesday, the court dropped the "resisting" charge against Young after he plead guilty to DUI. He served one day in jail, and an six additional days were dismissed because he spent a month in rehab.