Posted on 08/10/2006 7:45:05 PM PDT by elkfersupper
Two of Albuquerque’s most famous residents have been arrested on charges of resisting and obstructing officers.
Investigators say Al Unser Sr. and his brother Bobby Unser drove up to separate cars to a roadblock on Unser Boulevard as police searched for a carjacking suspect.
Deputies say the two, who were arrested separately, both refused to leave when deputies told them to.
Both Unsers have won the Indianapolis 500 auto race several times, and the boulevard they were arrested on was named after the family.
Bobby Unser: - "Cops have a bad habit of covering up for each other" Bobby Unser gave a 12-minute interview for Eyewitness News 4. You can see the entire interview by clicking the “Video” link above.
In the interview, the elder Unser said he didn’t do anything wrong.
“Why would I drive down there?” he asked. “I’m not dumb. The world thinks I’m pretty smart. So why would I want to drive down Unser Boulevard if some guy is down there with a gun shooting at people?”
He says one deputy pulled especially hard on his handcuffs. “He’s got them so tight, it’s really hurting, and I said, ‘My shoulder just got out of a fresh operation. Easy!’ And he says, ‘Oh, no, handcuffs are supposed to hurt.’ ”
“You don’t treat citizens like they’re the worst crooks in the world,” he said. “Our prisoners get better treatment than this.”
Their server has been a bit overwhelmed.
http://www.abqjournal.com/abqnews/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1910&Itemid=2
Four-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Sr.'s misdemeanor trial enters 2nd day.
KOAT-TV has posted an interview with Albuquerque racing legends Al Unser Sr. and his brother, Bobby Unser, that took place shortly after the two were arrested and charged with failure to obey an officer and resisting arrest during a police roadblock near Al Unser's West Side Albuquerque home last August. You can link to Action 7 News reporter Rod Green's interview here .
Among those expected to be called as character witnesses for the 67-year-old Al Sr. are famous auto racers Parnelli Jones and Vince Granatelli -- all this for a misdemeanor trial in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court before Judge Daniel Ramczyk, according to this morning's Albuquerque Journal.
Al Sr.'s attorney Bob McNeill said in his opening statement Wednesday that his client was unaware he was entering a crime scene and was "simply driving on his own property to avoid what he thinks is an accident at the intersection," according to the Journal.
McNeill said Unser was confused because two of the police vehicles that blocked the intersection were unmarked and manned by plainclothes Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office narcotics detectives who were assisting Albuquerque police in a SWAT situation that ended with a carjacking suspect taking his own life, the Journal reported.
Bobby Unser, 72, who arrived at the scene later and also was arrested, will go to trial in January, according to the Journal.
Jury acquits Al Unser Sr. on misdemeanor charges
Associated Press Sports
Updated: 3:19 p.m. ET Dec 15, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -A jury has acquitted four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Sr. on misdemeanor charges of resisting and disobeying police.
The 67-year-old Unser was arrested Aug. 9 near his home after authorities cordoned off a road named after the famous racing family. The roadblock, close to the Unser family's property, was part of a SWAT situation. Officers were trying to arrest a man who led them on a high-speed chase and fired shots at police.
Prosecutors alleged Unser ignored officers' orders to leave the area and instead exited his vehicle "with the purpose of giving officers a piece of his mind.''
Charlie Daniels, Unser's attorney, said the only reason Unser was arrested was because he objected "to the abusive way he was being treated by police.''
"We were glad to see that justice was done,'' Daniels said. "We knew that once anybody looked at the real evidence instead of the accusations that they would see it as we did.''
Closing arguments in the trial in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court wrapped up Friday, and jurors deliberated for about three hours before coming to a verdict.
Unser said that since the arrest, he has lost speaking engagements and work as a consultant, his police mug shot has appeared in racing magazines and his case was even the subject of Jay Leno's late night television show.
Right.
He sings, plays guitar, fiddles and practices law? Is there anything this guy can't do?
Civil suit is next. I hope the Unser brothers wind up taking their street back and turning it into a toll toad.
Charges against Indy winner Bobby Unser dropped
Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and obstructing an officer have been dropped against three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser, who was arrested along with his brother during a fracas at a roadblock in August.
A joint statement issued by Unser's attorneys and the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department said the charges were dismissed because the incident had been "a mutual misunderstanding" with sheriff's deputies.
Unser and his brother, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Sr., were arrested Aug. 9 after deputies cordoned off a road named for the famous racing family. Deputies contended the brothers tried to get around the roadblock and ignored orders to leave the area, where authorities had cornered an armed carjacking suspect.
The Unsers contended they were on their own property and were strong-armed by deputies.
A Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court jury acquitted Al Unser on Dec. 15.
Thanks for the update.
I hope this "misunderstanding" results in the Unser's taking their street back and turning it into a toll road as partial compensation.
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