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: Infamy or Praise

TGIS: Thank God It's Schadenfreude! (286)

This week's joy in the misfortune of others comes courtesy of the Seattle Times (via Above the Law) (from Tuesday, September 7; links good at time of posting):

Seattle lawyer Anne Bremner twice called 911 to report a flat tire ? about 11 miles from where she eventually was pulled over and arrested for DUI nearly an hour later.

Both calls, at 11:12 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. June 3, were made from Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood, though Bremner told dispatchers she didn't know where she was, according to recordings released Tuesday by the King County Sheriff's Office.

....

Originally, Bremner, 52, pleaded not guilty and tried to seal the records relating to her arrest, saying they invaded her privacy, could hurt her reputation and were not of interest to the public. She said she had been a victim of a hit-and-run accident and suffered a brain injury that mimicked the signs of alcohol impairment.

According to a follow-up investigation by the Sheriff's Office, the damage to Bremner's car was consistent with driving over a curb and the car did not show signs of being involved in a hit and run.

Last week, Bremner reversed course and pleaded guilty to the DUI in King County District Court in Shoreline.

....

She told [arresting Deputy Brandon] Moen she was an attorney for the Seattle Police Department and that Moen had a "bad attitude" and would not "go far" in his career, police reports say.

She also said to various deputies: "I will sue your ass," "I'm famous. It'll be bad for you guys," "You can't arrest me. I represent Seattle and King County. You are making a mistake," and "I represent you guys. Come on, take me home," according to documents.

When told she was going to be arrested, Bremner said she was not an "animal" and did not belong in a cell, the reports indicate.

Once in the precinct holding cell, according to the police reports, she pounded on the door and yelled "somebody help me" and "let me out right now." She lay on the bench and "cried hysterically," police said.

"It was so obnoxious that I went and found Officer Moen and told him she needed to go to jail right now," wrote the arresting officer's supervisor, Kevin Johannes.

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Full post as published by Infamy or Praise on September 10, 2010 (boomark / email).