Al Unser Sr.’s conduct, arrest at roadblock are focus of New Mexico trial
Quote selected text Published December 15th, 2006 in Main
Unser is on trial in Metropolitan Court on the misdemeanor charges.
Unser was arrested on Aug. 9 near his home after authorities cordoned off the road on Albuquerque’s Westside that is named after the famous racing family. The roadblock was set up as part of a SWAT situation in which officers were trying to arrest a man who had led them on a high-speed chase and allegedly had fired shots at police.
Unser’s brother, Bobby, a three-time winner at Indy, arrived later at the roadblock and also was arrested after confronting police.
Bobby Unser’s case is pending.
Al Unser’s attorney, Bob McNeill, told jurors in his opening statement Wednesday that Unser believed he had come upon a traffic accident and was unaware of the nearby SWAT situation. McNeill said Unser was on his way to work and driving on his own property when he came upon the roadblock.
“This is not a highway. This is not a roadway. This is private property,” McNeill said.
McNeill told the jury Unser was confused because two of the vehicles being used for the roadblock were driven by undercover officers and were unmarked. McNeill also said two of the three deputies who confronted Unser were plainclothes narcotics detectives who were helping out at the blockade.
McNeill said Unser became confused when the deputies began yelling at him.
“Al Unser is wondering why are they yelling? What is it that I’m not doing that I’m supposed to be doing,” McNeill said. “He also wants to know who are these people that are yelling.”
Prosecutor Jeremy Pena, during a brief opening statement, told the jurors Unser ignored orders to leave the area, that he exited his vehicle “with the intention of arguing with the deputies” and was arrested when he jumped back into his vehicle and tried to leave.
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Honest to Pete, don’t New Mexico police, New Mexico prosecutors, New Mexico district attorneys, New Mexico judges and New Mexico courts have anything else to do than to arest a man, on his own property, for doing exactly what the police had just told him to do, and then compound the lunacy by wasting tax payer money with a trial? A trial? What kind of horrible offense against society did Al Sr. commit? He got out of his car and yelled at strangers on his property, perhaps for tresspassing. Maybe Al should just plead guilty to yelling real loud and consider how lucky he is that they didn’t shoot him on the spot having concealed a .45 caliber mouth.
It seems to me that this is definitely another case of the tail wagging the dog. It makes no difference whether the police were on some kind of a sting or not. If then needed to keep people away from the sting, they should have put a squad farther up the road. Then, if Al decided that he was going to yell at the police, he could have at least yelled at someone in a uniform and with a badge.
Get a life, New Mexico police, and lighten up. And, try to remember what it means to be “in the service to the public”.