(TheBlaze/AP) — Authorities in central Ohio say three law enforcement officers face charges in the death of an allegedly drunk man they dropped off at a Taco Bell.
Two Delaware County deputies and an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper are cited for a misdemeanor count of failing “to prevent or halt the commission of an offense or to apprehend an offender, when it is in the law-enforcement officer’s power to do so alone or with available assistance.”
The Columbus Dispatch explains:
Deputies Derek Beggs, 29, and Christopher Hughes, 27, had found 22-year-old Uriel Juarez Popoca drunk in his truck in an I-71 median in Delaware County on July 28.
The deputies did not arrest Popoca, although one of them said he was intoxicated, according to a cruiser video released Aug. 31 by the patrol. Trooper Sean Carpenter, 37, who arrived at the scene shortly after the deputies, also did not arrest Popoca.
Instead, Beggs and Hughes drove Popoca, who was a native of Mexico, to the Taco Bell on Rt. 36/37 and left him there because “they gotta have someone in there who can interpret,” one of the deputies said in the video.
The three decided that the best way to handle the situation would be to have Popoca call someone to pick him up. Popoca did not have a driver’s license. [Emphasis added]
The man was not driving when spotted by police, according to reports, but sitting in his car.
ABC10 has more, including clips from the police cruiser:
Apparently Taco Bell’s store manager made several 911 calls about Popoca’s behavior, and roughly an hour after he was dropped off, a man called 911 to report he accidentally hit Popoca with his car.
Apparently Popoca was walking along the side of the road, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Columbus Dispatch has the latest:
Lt. Anne Ralston, a spokeswoman for the State Highway Patrol, said Carpenter has been placed on administrative duties and is working out of the district headquarters in Columbus.
“That means no badge, no gun, no uniform, no ID card, no car,” Ralston said.
Jennifer Jarrell, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, said Beggs and Hughes remain on paid leave.
Carpenter, Beggs and Hughes are scheduled to appear in Delaware County Municipal Court on Sept. 26.





















































































































Comments (88)
wfo
Sep. 15, 2012 at 9:13pmIf I had written this my headline would have been:
“Cops charged after following Obama’s “Catch and Release” Executive Order.
“They set a suspected illegal that was knee walking drunk free…”
Obama should pin a medal on them! :-)
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IMAWAKENOW
Sep. 15, 2012 at 10:14pmExactly. If they had arrested him they would have been accused of profiling him. Ask for any ID, again discrimination and profiling. Why should they assume he was drunk, just because he seemed impaired? I’m sorry but these are the results of obummer’s policies. He can’t have it both ways.
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Walkabout
Sep. 16, 2012 at 12:24am“Cops charged after following Obama’s “Catch and Release” Executive Order.
***
You are so right on.
They had him dead to rights (no pun intended) on DUI. But why do it when the Leftist Hispanic groups or Eric Holder come after you for up holding the law?
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Walkabout
Sep. 16, 2012 at 12:24amBut the Democrats will makes sure he still votes in November!
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BSdetector
Sep. 16, 2012 at 10:41amTwice!
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turkey13
Sep. 17, 2012 at 9:31amWhat dumb cops! They should have known the deal when they found out he didn’t have a drivers license. Under Obama’s executive order one officer should have driven his car to his home following the other cop that was following the drunks directions. Most states do not require illegals to have a drivers license or insurance. This is why you have insurance and would just make the insurance company’s richer.
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Markie Mark
Sep. 15, 2012 at 8:52pmWow, another cop story, the Blaze can’t have a day without one… Its not the cops fault but lets go ahead and blame them or as Barry would say before having all the facts, “the police acted stupidly.” I guess another slow news day at the Blaze.
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Markie Mark
Sep. 15, 2012 at 9:46pmLet me further add, sorry cops the world is upside down and your caught in the middle, you will be blamed now more than ever for BS…
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Weiners Wiener
Sep. 15, 2012 at 9:49pmYou’re pretty ignorant if you think the police aren’t at fault here. That man could have stumbled back to his car, started drving, and killed an innocent family in a head-on collision. He was a danger to others and they let him go. Of course it was their fault. Wake up.
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BryanB
Sep. 16, 2012 at 3:13am@Weiners Wiener
The Deputies and State Trooper did noting wrong in this situation.
The Native of Mexico was responsible for his own actions.
The Deputies and State Trooper got him out from behind the wheel of his vehicle, so he was no longer a danger to other drivers or padestrians. Also when you have a language barrier, and no proper ID, it’s hard to get someone home safe.
It was never Law Enforcements job to protect you from yourself……
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ranger82
Sep. 16, 2012 at 8:43amthere are more bad cops then good…wake up, you live in a police state! this story, I agree is not the cop but there is plenty of excessive force and other crime police do everyday. It is time the american people take away law enforcement free pass! how about the 77 old woman pulled out of her truck by the tuff guy pig a day or two ago? another “good” cop right?
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abeliever2010
Sep. 16, 2012 at 10:46amAs a law enforcement officer you are charged with the protection of citizens and others. While this man was deemed intoxicated by at least one deputy, he was a hazard to the public.
In Ohio you don’t have to be driving the car while intoxicated, the was states operating any vehicle. If the keys were in the ignition and he was manipulating anything in the car, he is operating.
One can look at this in another way, the officers did not want to deal with this situation as maybe the prosecutor would not have taken the case…..profiling would have been claimed….any number or reasons can be given. However, it is the duty of the law enforcement officers to protect all. DUI, No Drivers License, Disorderly Conduct ( Intox in public)……
Clearly leaving a man in the Taco Bell was not appropriate. Also the comment that there must be someone who can interpret at Taco bell is a bit “interesting”.
After 16 years in the field I have seen enough idiots carrying a badge and a gun because their best bubba was elected sheriff, who has absolutely zero law enforcement experience, and gave them the job, as well as because they want to fulfill some desire to be like a TV cop is s a non realistic program.
There are great law enforcement officers out there, but they are becoming an endangered species due to the difficulties in the.
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Not_A_Useful_Idiot
Sep. 16, 2012 at 1:42pm@Weiners Wiener- The police are at fault? The story said one of the officers thought he might be intoxicated. No crime committed as the person was not driving. Took the person off the highway to a Taco bell because of a language barrier and got no where. So they released him. Would you rather they detain him on suspicion of a possible future crime? Say possible public drunkenness, DWI, rape robbery…you know things people do why possible under the influence of something? You actually would advocate detention and substance testing of anyone buying alcohol, gun, ammo, fuel…ect, because they might break the law in the future using such purchases? I don’t believe in the nanny state, but you apparently do. Blame he is solely with the man. He was an adult and had a right to live his life anyway he wanted too. As for his immigration status, I agree with everyone else. That man would be alive today if he was in the process of deportation. But Mr. O thinks differently.
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BryanB
Sep. 16, 2012 at 3:10pm@abeliever2010
That right, under Legal Guide-Lines for Probable Cause to make an arrest for DUI or DWI, “If the keys were in the ignition” …. No physical control of a Motor Vehicle, No DUI or DWI.
The Deputies and State Trooper couldn’t even write him a Traffic Ticket, without the keys being in the ignition.
And this is why the Deputies and State Trooper were in the right. And you can’t protect people from themselves.
The Deputies and State Trooper took the Native of Mexico to a safe place.
We used to use what was called the MYERS ACT, also knowen as Protective Custody, when dealing with public drunkenness. But because it’s Public Record, we (Law Enforcement) got sued. Law Enforcement could hold someone up to 24 hours in Protective Custody (Jail). If the Drunk was Baker Acted, they could be held for 72 hours in a Hospital or Mental Facility.
I don’t know what else these Law Enforcement Officers could have done. The Lawyers have tied their hands……..
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LeadNotFollow
Sep. 15, 2012 at 8:37pm…
If the police had arrested this drunk “native of Mexico” they would have caught H*LL for arresting him. He was probably an illegal. Maybe they were trying to give him a break.
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Smokey_Bojangles
Sep. 15, 2012 at 8:34pmI Was Not aware that Taco Bell Doubled as an ICE agency.
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Exrepublisheep
Sep. 16, 2012 at 12:42amFunny! And sad.
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The-Monk
Sep. 15, 2012 at 8:28pmI thought the DOJ came down hard on Cops that arrested Mexicans? Maybe the Cops were scared?
In most States if you are drunk and sitting in a car (drivers seat) and the key is in the ignition, it’s still drunk driving.
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RJJinGadsden
Sep. 15, 2012 at 8:43pmEven if you have general access to the keys, such as in your pocket will be a DUI in many states.
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Smokey_Bojangles
Sep. 15, 2012 at 8:45pmIf You are in the front seat on either side it is considered drunk driving.Must be part of Obama’s amnesty program.
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The-Monk
Sep. 15, 2012 at 8:48pmHi RJJ,
I did not know that.
I do know that in Florida drunk riding of a bicycle is a DUI just like in a car. A neighbor of mine back in the late 80′s was arrested one block away coming home with a 6-pack. Full DUI.
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RJJinGadsden
Sep. 15, 2012 at 9:03pmI was already off our force when a guy that I knew over in another town who owned a bar. He had a few to drink as he cleaned the place and finished his paperwork. It was so late that he decided to sleep in his station wagon. The local cops broke a window, dragged him out and arrested him for DUI while parked in his semi enclosed rear parking lot. Know the town’s kangaroo court they naturally found him guilty. The last I saw him, he was still appealing.
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bigdaddyt46
Sep. 16, 2012 at 4:46am@rjj
this is why i keep my drunk **** in the house because i am the co-founder of D.A.M.M. drunks against mad mothers :D
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SilentReader
Sep. 15, 2012 at 8:11pmIt would be nice to know what the usual protocol is here. Maybe you could let us know?
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Tobytheone
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:35pmIf it had been me or u to the pokey we go
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watersRpeople
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:31pmMost people have illegals in a neighborhood near them, but they don’t see it because they change the channel. And even though most neighbors can’t stand each other, they pretend they like each other, but second to second they change the channel pointing the finger at neighbors on the local news who don’t get along.
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freeberty
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:26pmTypical lazy government parasites, can’t or didn’t want to handle an intoxicated 22 yr old. They’re better suited to bring swift justice to a 77 yr old woman with a bladder problem
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Markie Mark
Sep. 16, 2012 at 8:35amThat’s the best you got, you should go back to The Ed show where you belong.
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DeathRattle
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:23pmAs a retired Deputy, I many times helped people I could have arrested for Drunk in Public by offering a ride or calling a ride for them. I’m sure the full story isn’t being presented here so Ill hold my peace on this case, but had they had put him in Jail the officers would have been called heartless and cruel. I thank God I am no longer out there….. this backwards flip flop of a society is getting to be too damn much too believe anymore. If the feds had done their job in the first place this man would be drunk in Mexico somewhere probably hanging from an underpass.
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JerryNic
Sep. 16, 2012 at 12:07amDeathrattle, you hit the nail on the head. The problem wasn’t the guy who hit the Mexican drunken illegal, nor was it the Taco Bell management, It certainly was not the police who didn’t want to risk the consequences of profiling or taking advantage of some poor slob who didn’t speak the language of the USA and didn’t have a driver’s license. As you pointed out, the problem is that this guy was here and he should not have been. You said “If the feds had done their job in the first place this man would be drunk in Mexico.” Let’s not blame the police; rather, let’s fix the government. Let’s stop the flow. Period.
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progressiveslayer
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:18pmSo this is a feel good story one illegal down 19,999,999 to go.They can and should be deported because they’re here illegally.The keystone cops thought a Mexican would be at taco bell to interpret?
LMAO Yeah taco bell is authentic Mexican like Barry is an authentic American.
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Falconer
Sep. 16, 2012 at 9:00amI don’t know where you live but all the fast food chains in So. Cal. are full of Mexicans that can’t speak English. I stopped going to a particular Carl’s Jr. because they got my order wrong 10 times in a row!!! It used to be these fast food chains were filled with high school employees getting their first experience with dealing with the public and working. Not anymore. In So. Cal. the best place to find a Spanish translator is a fast food restaurant!
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watersRpeople
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:17pmPeople aren’t really worried about things changing in America, because their conditioning is that when they don’t like the show [they'll just change the channel].
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watersRpeople
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:06pmIt used to be that people just wanted dirty laundry on a handful of celebrities we were shown in movies or TV shows on the few channels our TV got. Now in the age of Youtube stars, and nearly everyone thinking they are a super-star even the Evel Knievel at every traffic light – people view most of this stuff as just mere entertaining “Dirty Laundry” about everyone – not the severe threat to the end of America that it really is. That’s why people will just whine as America dies.
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Eastinfection
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:06pmIf the dude hadn’t been killed this story would be hilarious! Dropped a Mexican off at Taco Bell because “they gotta have someone in there who can interpret”. These sound like the cops from “Harold and Kumar”. Unfortunate because it sounds like they were trying to do the guy a favor… unfortunately they were way off in their stereotyping… in my city the Taco Bells are staffed by blacks. The Mexicans all work at McDonalds.
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LB
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:04pmI think they did what they have been told by Obama and his minions. Leave the illegals alone, don’t call ICE no matter what.
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KangarooJack
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:12pmBINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bingo
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afishfarted
Sep. 15, 2012 at 6:59pm20 to one odds, the federal immigration policy had an impacy on their decision–as dumb as it was. The feds have made it near impossible to enforce illegal immigrants or the laws they break
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PointBreak
Sep. 15, 2012 at 6:54pmWe got rid of an illegal AND 3 cops?!?! Who says the Blaze never reports any good news?
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American Soldier (Separated)
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:08pmHahahahaha
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grayling646
Sep. 15, 2012 at 9:10pmAre you saying we should get rid of all the cops?
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PointBreak
Sep. 15, 2012 at 11:33pmGRAYLING646 – Yes, I am saying that. Cops have moved past simply worthless into the dangerous psychopaths category and as long as there’s one bad one allowed to remain in the ranks – they’re all bad. Instinctively I feel more tense around police than I do walking through a bad neighborhood because they’re all completely nuts and immune from reprimand – not to mention I can avoid a bad neighborhood. To them your life has no more value than a few weeks of paid administrative leave, you’re no more than a walking mark – something to be taxed or bullied and if you don’t show them respect you’re going to pay for it. LEO is the most dangerous, violent gang in the country and America’s greatest problem.
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Wool-Free Vision
Sep. 15, 2012 at 6:54pmThe liberal screwballs who are charging these cops with a crime should be fired immediately. Unbelievable!
The leftists in this country are not going to be happy until we are scrounging for Victory Gin and worshipping at the altar of Big Brother. And even then, they still won’t be happy, because dissatisfaction rooted in self-loathing is the very heart of liberalism.
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Bill Rowland
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:11pmIn Texas if you are drunk you can be charged with public intoxication and locked up for 4 hours so that you can sober up. If they didn’t want to do the DWI paperwork (he would never show up for court anyway) they should have booked him for public intoxication – a danger to himself and others.
OMG Nov 6, 2012
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CommonSenseTalk
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:12pmyou have to love the liberal. They are the ones who say we should understand and love everyone. The cops are bad. Kill the pig.
Here these police do not arrest him for being drunk, he should have been arrested and sent back to Mexico but these guys where being liberal.
Who do you think fired these guys? (Liberal) or (Conservative)
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grayling646
Sep. 15, 2012 at 9:13pm@ Bill,
If the Fed had done its job that guy wouldn’t be here.
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Depressed_American
Sep. 15, 2012 at 6:52pmWhat are they suppose to do. He is an Illegal Alien. Cops are NOT allowed to arrest Illegal Aliens. Plus he was only 22 Years old so he falls under Obama’s Dream Act, and DHS’s span of control.
Remember Obama’s words the last time they arrested someone who was acting suspecious. “THE COPS ACTED STUPIDLY”……..
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Sara123
Sep. 15, 2012 at 6:59pmThey would have arrested and thrown the book at an American-American. How quaint.
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watersRpeople
Sep. 15, 2012 at 6:51pmCome one give us “Dirty Laundry.”
RJJinGadsden
Sep. 15, 2012 at 8:57pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46bBWBG9r2o
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U.N.hater
Sep. 15, 2012 at 6:47pmNative of Mexico? Do you mean he was illegal? PC be DA MNED!!!
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whatthecrazy
Sep. 15, 2012 at 8:18pmThey do think we are stupid dont they?
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JACKTHETOAD
Sep. 15, 2012 at 6:44pmDivine Symmetry.
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NunProfitOrg
Sep. 15, 2012 at 6:43pmThey probably mistook Taco Bell for the Mexican consulate.
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American Soldier (Separated)
Sep. 15, 2012 at 7:17pmNow that’s funny!
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NunProfitOrg
Sep. 15, 2012 at 6:43pmwhere is the damage here?
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N37BU6
Sep. 15, 2012 at 6:42pmShoulda called Conyers.
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