Things are not always what they seem
Truly, I think that things are rarely exactly as they seem. Our perceptions of people, based on a single exchange or even multiple exchanges in any given context, show only a snapshot of a moment in time. When recreating the events that led to a person's arrest, the different pictures created by defense and prosecution may both be skewed and sometimes it is impossible to find the truth.
Sometimes there are the rare moments when a lying officer is caught on video or audio, and we see that things are not as they seem. Similarly, sometimes a defendant is caught lying on video or audio. When there is no hard proof, unfortunately, most people will believe the officer and will trust the authorities, despite the fact that our system is based on the principles of proof beyond a reasonable doubt and innocent until proven guilty.
Many assumed that Atlantic Beach Mayor Retha Pierce was guilty of DUI, based on her recent string of arrests (and I don't doubt that she has a valid defense in each instance), but she appears to be vindicated by a recent announcement of the results of her drug and alcohol tests:
Drug tests Atlantic Beach mayor Retha Pierce took at Quality Drug Screening in Sumter show no drugs or alcohol were in her system when she was arrested on DUI charges in Marion County in September. . . .A hair test taken on October 14 at Quality Drug Screen showed Pierce had no cocaine, marijuana, opiates, methamphetamines, or phencyclidine in her system.
A urine test administered by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division also showed Pierce had no alcohol in her body when she was arrested.
Webb said the tests are admissible in court and the results cover a span of six months.
It is rare that a person wrongfully accused of drunk driving has the forethought to go and get a drug test done (or to call a DUI lawyer before their court date), but it can make the difference between a criminal conviction and a clean record.
