Tustin woman convicted of crashing her car into a policeman while she was drunk

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

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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