On Thursday, May 22, 2014, at approximately 4:40 P.M., a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Bridgeport Area officer received a radio call from the CHP’s Bishop Communications Center, advising a Mono County Sheriff’s Deputy was following a possible DUI driver. The deputy was transporting a prisoner at the time, and wished to avoid placing his prisoner at risk by making an enforcement stop.
The CHP officer located the vehicle, a white Toyota 4 Runner, and conducted a traffic stop. The officer contacted the driver and immediately recognized the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from within the vehicle. The officer requested the driver, Mr. William Moffet, age 63, of Woodland Hills, California, perform field sobriety tests. The preliminary alcohol screening device revealed a preliminary blood alcohol content of approximately .15%, slightly less than twice the maximum legal limit.
The officer placed Mr. Moffet under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. Mr. Moffet was transported to the CHP’s Bridgeport Area office where he completed a chemical test. During a vehicle inventory related to storing the vehicle and its contents for safe keeping, a loaded firearm was located directly behind his driver seat.
Additionally, multiple controlled substances were located within the vehicle. Mr. Moffet was transported and booked into the Mono County Sheriff’s Department Jail in Bridgeport, California, for driving under the influence, weapons and controlled substance violations. Mr. Moffet was served with a Department of Motor Vehicles administrative driving privilege suspension. CHP officers were assisted at the scene by a Mono County Sheriff’s Deputy.
Trouble…I’m sure if you can find a site that doesn’t promote marijuana use and legalization those “statistics” you mention might be a little off…as well as all of us knowing how many other factors are involved and how inaccurate these crime rate statistics are….Again,I have to go back to when… Read more »
There certainly many good arguments against using drugs. I think keeping your brain in a fully functioning state is the best one – particularly true for the young whose brains are still developing. But that is an argument to be won by persuasion, not by seizing power and throwing people… Read more »
in the late sixties and early seventies the police could of charged half the people coming threw here with the same charges. the names have changed and the hair has gotten shorter, but the song remains the same.
Murder, theft and kidnapping are as old as mankind too. Should we give people a pass on these because that song, too, hasn’t changed? Do you ever have a cogent argument to offer?
Well… Murder, theft and kidnapping involve the imposition of a violent individual’s will on the innocent and involve actual victims. To allow the strongest to impose their will on their fellow citizens is a clear recipe for the breakdown and failure of society. 95% of us can recognize that these… Read more »
I think the great majority of people object to individuals driving a motor vehicle while drunk or stoned. Doing so very much endangers innocent people and quite often causes their death. That isn’t a lifestyle choice, it is a crime and richly deserves to be punished.
People driving with active drugs in their bloodstream concerns me. Driving with drugs in the car does not.
Anything good the law does they need to highlight it, excuse me, but I just assumed looking out for the public and taking proactive measures to keep us all safe was part of the job.. Why is it because of the honor that is within the job, we as citizens… Read more »
Major Tom….If you were a victim of having a family member killed by a drunk driver,or a drug impaired driver, you might feel differently….someone driving a 2,500 pound battering ram on the highway with twice the legal limit of alcohol and/or drugs in their system….and doesn’t it seem these type… Read more »
Thats a Beauty of a “cogent argument”…. Well played MajorTom, well played…
This individual chose to get in his car and drive when his blood alcohol was WELL beyond the legal limit. At that point he chose to be a threat to innocent people around him.
Absolutely. There is no excuse for driving while impaired. While using drugs should be an individual choice, using drugs and then making yourself a threat to others is criminal behavior. If a person chooses to use alcohol or pot, they darn well better not get behind the wheel of a… Read more »
Sure D.T., so far the murder, theft and sexual crime rate in Colorado has dropped over 30% since people stop calling a herb a narcotic there. I’m sure the politians can find plenty to send on with their new found revinue . I don’t know of any stats on the… Read more »
I’m really not sure why this is worthy of news…seems like same old stuff anywhere else. Maybe a slow news day. These cops are sure enjoying tooting their own horn lately.
These kinds of arrests on our highways are good for citizens to be aware of. Benett Kessler
@Joey, Maybe it’s news here because Inyo and Mono are two of the least populated counties in the state. I’m glad there’s nothing more news worthy to report here. And I agree with BK, the citizens should have the opportunity to be aware of what’s happening where they live. If… Read more »
Thank You Joey. My great grand kids may be reading the same old story in 2105. They act the they just save the world when all they really are doing is repeating the same old story. And they wonder why I joke about it.
Funny, you sure spend a lot of time reading and commenting on stories that you consider jokes.
WOO-HOOO!!..Sunday afternoon….The tow-yard in town is filling up….This morning, one of them driving without a license,and a huge hassle for the “driver”,needing a licensed drivers to come up from L.A. to get the vehicle before the fee gets too big….with the(alleged) unlicensed driver even trying to pay the owner of… Read more »
I wonder why on some arrest for controlled substances we here exactly what was found to be illegal and sometimes not like in this case?
ram, CHP Lt. Ron Cohan provided this answer to your question: To answer the question posted by “ram,” there are several reasons we sometimes do not identify the specific controlled substance. Sometimes there are multiple substances and the press release just gets too long. Other times we cannot be sure… Read more »
Thank you Lt. Ron for the education and informative answer.
Khat is a plant, not a “designer drug”.
Placing khat in the “designer drug” line made me roll my eyes. It has been grown and chewed in the Arabian peninsula and large swaths of Africa for thousands of years. But Mr. Chippie is a drug “expert”. Right?
DMT, found in plants and animals, was first synthesized in the 30s. Designer drug usually means something that was altered just enough to be a legally new substance. Most illegal drugs were developed by Pharmaceutical companies who have moved on to design drugs we will outlaw in the future. One… Read more »
Job well done MCSD and CHP. Thank you.
truth behold Wayne , this guy is probably already out on bail? Come on vacation leave on probation.
Trouble….question to you….If you were caught driving drunk,with a concealed weapon,AND with drugs (allegedly) in your vehicle,and you had your vehicle impounded….in Bridgeport…number # 1,the tow yard wouldn’t release the car untill after the holliday weekend..#2,sounds like his drivers license was suspended that same day,now if that were to happen… Read more »
Maybe you should tell me what I would really do Wayne? Did you pick out a dress for the policeman ball yet? If so, what color?
You’re assuming this guy has the dough to bail himself out of jail and his car out of impound. That might not be the case. He might still be a guest of the county. Just saying ……..
Desert Tortoise….Thing is,first to come up with is the bail money….then getting the car out of the tow yard….tow probably about $150.00 plus the 3 day week-end of storage fees at the yard,another $100.00 or so…and…in this case,can’t be released to the driver,since he lost his driving privileges and needing… Read more »
Mr.William Moffet…..enjoy your Memorial Day weekend in the beautiful town of Bridgeport,California….too bad going fishing won’t be on your agenda…but,the good thing about it is,those that can will be safer without you on the highway.