ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 16CF3123

Date: August 29, 2017

DRUNKEN DRIVER CONVICTED OF CRASHING INTO ORANGE POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS STANDING BEHIND PATROL VEHICLE

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A drunken driver was convicted today of crashing into an Orange Police Department officer who was standing behind his patrol vehicle on a residential street.

Defendant: Ashley Victoria Bertolino, 27, Tustin

Pleaded guilty today to the following felony counts:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs causing bodily injury
• Driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury
• Driving with a blood alcohol level of .08% or more causing bodily injury
• Sentencing Enhancement
  • Inflicting great bodily injury

Maximum Sentence: Three years in state prison

Sentencing: Oct. 24, 2017, 9:00 a.m. at Department C-49, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana

Circumstances of the Case

• At approximately 3:00 a.m. on Dec. 10, 2016, three officers from the Orange Police Department (OPD) responded to a call for service on a residential street.
• While at the scene, Officer Doe stood near the back of his patrol vehicle, which was parked alongside the curb, to gather paperwork.
• Bertolino had a blood alcohol level of .13 percent and was under the influence of drugs while driving 40 mph in a 25 mph zone.
• The defendant drifted towards the curb and crashed into Officer Doe and the back of his patrol vehicle.
• The other officers at the scene ran to assist Officer Doe, who was pinned underneath Bertolino’s vehicle, and the defendant exited her vehicle.
• Bertolino was detained by OPD officers until officers from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), who investigated this case, arrived on scene.
• Officer Doe was transported to a local hospital and was hospitalized with major injuries.
  Bertolino was evaluated at a local hospital and arrested the following morning by CHP.

Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Jess Rodriguez, Special Prosecutions Unit

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Michelle Van Der Linden,Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486