[StBernard] Chalmette sobriety checkpoint too much for impaired driver

[Westley Annis]

Chalmette sobriety checkpoint too much for impaired driver
by The Times-Picayune 
Friday July 10, 2009, 7:14 PM


Patrick O'Neill had already downed a beer and two pain pills, and was
holding a daiquiri, when he drove up to a sobriety checkpoint in Chalmette. 

So he bolted, racing off at speeds approaching 100 mph and trying to run
over a deputy sheriff as he fled, authorities said Friday. They caught up
with him at his trailer home, and now O'Neill faces charges of attempted
murder of an officer, driving while impaired, aggravated flight, possession
of cocaine, battery on an officer and traffic complaints. 

The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office said numerous deputies were staffing
the checkpoint Thursday night on West Judge Perez Drive near Jean Lafitte
Parkway when O'Neill, 41, arrived. He was alone in the car and holding a
daiquiri. 

A deputy reached into the vehicle to take the drink, but O'Neill sped off,
Chief Deputy James Pohlmann said. A colleague pulled the deputy to safety. 

O'Neill tried to run over another deputy while speeding to his home at 2415
Ramoncita Drive in Chalmette, about a mile from the checkpoint. Other
deputies followed, entered the trailer and arrested him at 10:10 p.m. 

He admitted drinking a beer and swallowing two Vicodin pills earlier,
Pohlmann said. 

O'Neill is being held without pending an appearance before a judge. 

The Sheriff's Office said he has several prior DWI arrests but could provide
no information on their disposition. 

No one was injured in the incident. 

Two other drivers were booked with DWI as a result of Thursday night's
checkpoint, and Pohlmann said more are to come. 

"We will continue to try to remove such drivers from the road because they
are a danger to themselves and others," he said.