July 4, 2009

Precinct 4 Constable Rowdy Hayden's officers were spread all over East Montgomery County on Friday night in preparation for irresponsible holiday revelers driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. Residents might have heeded repeated warnings regarding "Zero Tolerance" for impaired driving and driving without license or insurance, or Friday night may have been the calm before the storm. In any case, most people seemed to abide by the law, with a few exceptions.

Lt. Mark Seals said officers were called to the Porter Walmart around 8 p.m. to assist Montgomery County EMS who originally thought their patient was having a seizure when she struck a parked vehicle while driving through the parking lot. However, according to Seals, the woman was "clearly under the influence of drugs."

"She admitted taking Somas," he said. The suspect had a 4-year-old child with her and there was no child safety seat, Seals said, which enhances the charge.

The suspect was identified as 39-year-old Emily Brady of Porter.

Seals said the store's surveillance video showed her vehicle, a 1990 Nissan Maxima, slamming into a Cadillac sedan so hard that it moved the large car about six inches.

The woman demonstrated a high level of intoxication and medics decided to transport her to Kingwood Hospital, Seals said.

Brady was to be charged with driving while intoxicated / child endangerment, a state jail felony.

Deputies turned the child over to family members. Seals said Child Protective Services was contacted.

Seals said it is important to note that many people have the misconception that having a valid prescription for medication means it is not illegal to drive while taking it. However, driving while impaired is illegal whether it's from alcohol, illegal or prescription drugs.

"You can get a DUI for a prescription drug as fast as for alcohol," Seals said.

Lately, he said, there are as many or more DuI charges for prescription drugs as for alcohol.

"It's a growing trend here," Seals said.

Another Porter resident took the traditional route to jail, when he was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated as a result of alcohol consumption.

Deputy Arturo Looza arrested 52-year-old Jerrin J. Landry after a traffic stop that resulted from Looza watching Landry drive through a parking lot to bypass a signal light.

Landry readily consented to a breathalyzer test which officers said was about twice the legal limit of .08 percent.

Landry talked freely about himself during his arrest, telling Looza he was over 1500 years old and sent by God, in addition to other interesting information.

Seven Pct. 4 officers were on patrol in East County Friday night, with the same number scheduled for Saturday night. Those numbers are in addition to Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputies and state troopers.