DAPHNE, Ala. — Daphne police DUI arrests totaled 11 in an eight-day span from Nov. 1 through Nov. 8, with each driver charged with driving under the influence, according to the department’s latest list of DUI and drug arrests. Officers working traffic enforcement across the city said each of the drivers was found to be impaired by alcohol after stops for moving violations and follow-up investigations and testing.
The same release lists three arrests for public intoxication, six arrests on drug-related charges and two arrests tied to ignition interlock requirements, bringing the total number of people named to 22. Police noted that the season stretching from November into early January typically brings an increase in alcohol and drug abuse nationwide, which in turn puts more impaired drivers on the road.
All of those named have been charged, not convicted. Each is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court, and any of the charges may be reduced, amended or dismissed as the cases move forward.
DUI arrests, Nov. 1–8
According to police, officers identified these drivers as being under the influence after conducting investigations and tests during stops for moving violations. All 11 DUI charges listed involve alcohol.
- Everett Terry Clayton, Sunday, Nov. 1, 12:27 a.m. — driving under the influence (alcohol)
- Andrew James Cannon, Sunday, Nov. 1, 4:30 p.m. — driving under the influence (alcohol)
- Charlotte Anastasia Peer, Monday, Nov. 2, 2:16 a.m. — driving under the influence (alcohol)
- Jania Arianna Monique Williams, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2:21 a.m. — driving under the influence (alcohol)
- Edelin Torres, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2:21 a.m. — driving under the influence (alcohol)
- Roy William Isola, Friday, Nov. 6, 8:50 p.m. — driving under the influence (alcohol)
- Chasity Amber Braswell, Saturday, Nov. 7, 1:01 a.m. — driving under the influence (alcohol)
- Sandy Kerry Woods, Saturday, Nov. 7, 3:20 a.m. — driving under the influence (alcohol)
- Steven Coleman Dukes, Saturday, Nov. 7, 11:47 p.m. — driving under the influence (alcohol)
- Jimmie Lee Dailey, Sunday, Nov. 8, 12:14 a.m. — driving under the influence (alcohol)
- Terrance Jevaune Ladd, Sunday, Nov. 8, 12:53 a.m. — driving under the influence (alcohol)
Most of the DUI arrests came late at night or in the early-morning hours. Eight of the 11 were made between midnight and 3:30 a.m., and the stretch from late Friday, Nov. 6, through early Sunday, Nov. 8, accounted for six of them. One arrest, on the afternoon of Sunday, Nov. 1, is a reminder that impaired-driving stops are not limited to after dark.
Public intoxication, drug and ignition interlock arrests
Officers also charged three people with public intoxication:
- Joshua Forrest Loper, Sunday, Nov. 1, 12:43 a.m. — public intoxication
- Tiffany Ann Brewton, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6:46 p.m. — public intoxication
- Adaiyja Antoinette Brown, Sunday, Nov. 8, 3:01 a.m. — public intoxication
Six people were charged with drug-related offenses during the same period:
- Shamiya Shakerria Anglin, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2:41 a.m. — possession of marijuana
- Tameshia Lysette Harvey Anglin, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2:41 a.m. — possession of marijuana
- Davierre Markel Duncan, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 11:57 p.m. — possession of drug paraphernalia
- Courtney Symmone Thornton, Friday, Nov. 6, 10:52 p.m. — possession of marijuana, second degree
- Maurice Lucious Grove, Friday, Nov. 6, 10:52 p.m. — possession of marijuana, second degree
- Christina Lee Nora Knight, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2:12 a.m. — possession of drug paraphernalia
The matching times on two pairs of arrests, at 2:41 a.m. on Nov. 4 and 10:52 p.m. on Nov. 6, suggest that each pair was charged during the same encounter, though police did not provide details about the circumstances.
Two more people were arrested on charges related to ignition interlock devices:
- Melonee Ruth Bolton, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 11:06 p.m. — ignition interlock violation
- Howard Clinton McCollough, Sunday, Nov. 8, 11:32 p.m. — ignition interlock misdemeanor
A second busy stretch this fall
The new list follows one the department released in October covering Oct. 1 through Oct. 9. That earlier list named 11 people in total on DUI, drug, eluding and public intoxication charges, including five DUI arrests, one of which involved a controlled substance rather than alcohol.
By comparison, the first eight days of November produced 11 DUI arrests on their own, more than double the October figure, along with 11 other arrests. Police did not offer an explanation for the difference beyond pointing to the seasonal rise in alcohol and drug use that law enforcement agencies see each year as the holidays approach. Daphne sits along the Interstate 10 and U.S. 98 corridors on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, and its streets carry heavy commuter and visitor traffic between Mobile and the rest of Baldwin County.
What the charges mean under Alabama law
The arrests on the list range from a low-level violation to offenses that can carry jail time, fines and the loss of driving privileges. The outcome of any individual case depends on its facts, the person’s prior record and what happens in court. In general terms:
Driving under the influence
Alabama law makes it illegal to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or any substance that impairs a person’s ability to drive safely. For most adult drivers, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher is enough on its own to support a DUI charge. The limit is 0.04% for commercial drivers and 0.02% for drivers under 21.
A first DUI conviction is a misdemeanor that can bring up to a year in jail, fines, a driver’s license suspension and required DUI school. Penalties climb for repeat offenses, and a fourth DUI conviction within 10 years is a felony. Under Alabama’s implied consent law, drivers who refuse a chemical test after a lawful DUI arrest can also lose their license administratively.
Ignition interlock offenses
An ignition interlock device is a breath-testing unit wired into a vehicle’s ignition. The driver must blow into it before the engine will start, and the device can call for additional tests while the vehicle is moving. Alabama requires the devices for many people convicted of DUI, including repeat offenders and drivers with especially high blood alcohol readings, as a condition of getting back on the road.
State law makes it an offense to drive a vehicle without an interlock device when one is required, or to tamper with or try to get around a device. Police did not describe the specific conduct behind the two interlock-related charges on this list.
Marijuana and paraphernalia charges
Under Alabama law, possessing marijuana for personal use is second-degree possession, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. Alabama has not legalized recreational marijuana, and the state’s medical cannabis program is narrow and does not allow smokable products. Possession of drug paraphernalia, which can include pipes, scales and other items used or intended for use with illegal drugs, is generally a Class A misdemeanor as well.
Public intoxication
Public intoxication is the least serious offense on the list. It generally applies when someone appears in a public place under the influence of alcohol or another substance to the point of endangering themselves or others, or of disturbing others through boisterous or offensive behavior. In Alabama it is classified as a violation, a step below a misdemeanor.
Where the cases go from here
Misdemeanor cases brought by Daphne officers are generally heard in Daphne Municipal Court, which moved into a new courtroom at the Daphne Justice Center Annex in September. The courtroom connects directly to the city jail through a secured hallway and was the final phase of a renovation of the city’s public safety campus.
Anyone charged has the right to an attorney and to contest the charges. In Alabama, a defendant convicted in municipal court can appeal to circuit court for a new trial. Many DUI and minor drug cases are resolved through plea agreements, while others are dismissed or go to trial.
Staying safe on the road this holiday season
With Thanksgiving, holiday parties and New Year’s Eve ahead, traffic safety officials urge anyone who plans to drink to arrange a sober ride before going out. A few practical steps can help:
- Choose a designated driver ahead of time, or use a rideshare service or taxi.
- If you are hosting, offer non-alcoholic drinks and help guests who have been drinking find a safe way home.
- Remember that some prescription and over-the-counter medications can impair driving. Read warning labels and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.
- If you see a driver you believe is impaired, call 911 with the location, direction of travel and a description of the vehicle. Do not try to follow or stop the vehicle yourself.
For questions about a specific arrest or case, residents can contact the Daphne Police Department or the Daphne Municipal Court clerk’s office. Everyone named in this report is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
