Seattle, Washington — On November 20, 2017 Tiffany Neatrour was released from an inpatient alcohol detox center. She went to her relatives house, some things happened, and later that day she found herself arrested on suspicion of DUI, driving without a license, and false reporting after Seattle Police dispatch received a 911 call reporting a reckless driver allegedly matching her description… and driving her car.
The arresting officer in this case was Tom Heller, badge number 7427 of North Precinct Patrol, Second Watch. Officer Heller graduated from the police academy in April 2008, and at the time of this arrest he had already “apprehended, arrested, or otherwise investigated” nearly 450 DUI cases. He is an instructor for the standardized field sobriety tests and has been a Drug Recognition Expert Instructor since November 2016. Prior to being a police officer he spent two years working as an EMT. And Tiffany Neatrour’s jury verdict was clear: Officer Heller got this one wrong.
Neatrour’s attorney – public defender Wissam Itani – fought vigorously for her, challenging the constitutionality of Officer Heller’s arrest and making a wide variety of other courtroom plays. Ms. Neatrour had later admitted to driving, but only after what Itani argued was an unconstitutional arrest, not supported by probable cause. A defense investigator poked holes in some of the testimony that you will hear, and the defense took issue with the warrant that had been issued for Ms. Neatrour’s blood. Nonetheless, the defense motion to suppress pretty much everything was denied.
The defense did get some big wins, though, such as a granted motion to preclude all statements made by witnesses who would not be testifying in court on confrontation clause grounds – including the 911 caller. One of Neatrour’s nieces had since died, and “would likely” not be appearing in court. Her testimony was suppressed accordingly. On top of that, the defense was granted a motion to exclude any mention of Neatrour’s prior alcohol abuse or having attended a detox facility. The prosecution would not be permitted to reference Neatrour’s threats to kill Officer Heller or her statement about having a suspended driver’s license. Specific sections of body worn camera footage were agreed admissible and were played in court. All other footage could not be used or referenced.* The prosecution scored a number of motion practice wins as well, and the case was set for trial. Neatrour refused to accept a plea bargain.
On 2/20/19 a panel of jurors was selected and sworn in and Ms. Neatrour’s trial commenced. Officer Heller and other witnesses testified, and the City rested its case the following day. On February 22, 2019 the jury returned its verdict: not guilty. And that was that. The case was closed. This is Part III of the body worn camera footage in the case. As you watch, keep in mind that much of the footage you are seeing was deemed inadmissible.
*That is not unusual. Although the details get complicated, a defendant’s prior misconduct (“propensity evidence”) is not admissible to show the defendant’s general propensity to engage in criminal activity. See State v. Bowen, 48 Wash. App. 187, 738 P.2d 316 (Div.3 1987). The idea being that such evidence is highly prejudicial, stripping the defendant of their presumption of innocence and possibly leading a jury to convict not because they find the defendant guilty of the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt, but because they believe the defendant deserves to be punished for a series of immoral actions.
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I find guilty
“Do you need to go potty†was pretty cute, actually. That’s just how we roll, in the PNW. When we aren’t defunding our police, allowing anarchy, and letting criminals pitch tents under the freeway. The woman in this video, has been clean and sober now, for 30 months. Good for her.
I just got out of detox. What a coincidence, so did I.
The arresting officer is golden!
Funny I have done one of those things and you actually have to blow really hard and have good lung capacity
Either he is the same cop who arrested the rude guy on the bike, or every cop in this area uses the word "potty"..
That cop is actually surprisingly friendly.
I think the cop started nice but then became a dick at the end. Very sarcastic and demeaning.
WTF attorneys did you hire, O.J. Simpsons DREAM TEAM? This girl is a MESS… a M..E..S…S. What does she have to do next, kill a family in another drunk driving accident? I watched the other parts of the video and she is one of the most drunk I have ever seen on this channel. The jury must have been family members too, I can't imagine anyone thinking she was not guilty of any of it.
I like this lady. and this cop. I hope the best for them
That's cop is a SCROTUM HEAD!
They don't even know exactly HOW TO USE THE MACHINE!
Wow any Person with a Brain Can Tell This woman is Intoxicated or Is On Drugs or Both 313 Until I D-I-E
This lady breaks my heart. She’s obviously got mental health issues beyond alcoholism.
She tried.
She takes pills
Who is the real dummy here? The wasted lady or the funny officer. I vote for officer Heller lmao
I'm in my 20s and I couldn't breathe out that long. Cop was kind of a dick at that part.
Defund the police
"One of Neatrour's nieces had since died, and "would likely" not be appearing in court." Isn't that a bit of an understatement? It would have been a straight up miracle if she had appeared in court posthumously (unless the court allowed EVP testimony). 😄
Seattle, such a shit hole.
The jury was a joke, but the 2nd biggest joke is the officer saying crown royal isn't a "better" whiskey. That stuff's good.
She gets off but I can see this lady killing some innocent person driving down the road or walking 100 percent
The officer arresting her sounds like the dude off of bounty hunter boot camp and he said he used to be a cop the guy from that show Bounty Hunter bootcamp I don't know if it's him or not but that would be so crazy because that's like my favorite Channel
I have never been so angry reading a video description, absolute garbage, the jury didn't even get to see the all the recordings. That self-centered drunk should not be anywhere near a car or a road, even on foot she could wobble into traffic cause an accident. Gravity obviously hates her. Another worthless drunk set loose on the public, laws should not protect the alcoholic.
The jury must be lucky enough to not have lost anyone they love because of a drunk.
They charged her wrong and she got her charges dropped 😂
Seattle loves their criminals.