UVI student's simple traffic stop sparks bizarre series of dramas
By TIM FIELDS
and CORLISS SMITHEN
Friday, November 7th 2008
ST. THOMAS - V.I. Police said that 21-year-old Blair Lampert - who was pulled over in downtown Wednesday on several traffic violations - refused to provide vehicle registration, resisted arrest, kicked an officer in the face, head-butted another officer, and threw a urine sample at a doctor at Schneider Hospital.
In an affidavit submitted to V.I. Superior Court, Officer Dariel Chinnery wrote that he noticed a blue jeep traveling along the waterfront with an out-of-date registration sticker. He said Lampert was not wearing a seatbelt and was talking on a cell phone, both of which are violations of V.I. law.
Chinnery said he advised Lampert to pull over and then told him why he had been stopped.
Lampert, a University of the Virgin Islands student from Oregon, refused to produce his driver's license and vehicle registration and insurance information, according to the affidavit.
Chinnery said Lampert swore at him twice.
"I then told him he is under arrest and to put his hands behind his back," Chinnery wrote. "While I was trying to hold him, he pushed me away, jumped out of the jeep and ran. I called Central Dispatch for assistance. Moments later, he was placed under arrest and handcuffed behind his back."
Chinnery said that he and other officers tried to put Lampert inside the police vehicle, but he resisted and police used a stun gun on him.
"I went to the other side of the vehicle to pull him in and he kicked me in my face with his two feet," Chinnery said.
While driving to the police station, Lampert tried to kick out the left and right side rear window of the police cruiser, Chinnery said.
Chinnery said he opened the cruiser door when they got to the police station and saw that Lampert had been able to get his handcuffs around to the front by slipping his legs through his arms.
Chinnery told him to put his hands behind his head and Lampert refused. Chinnery said he warned Lampert that if he did not comply, he would be doused with pepper spray.
"He refused and I used my OC spray on him and he kicked me in my face. I fell back and he jumped out of the police vehicle and ran towards Hospital Line," Chinnery said in the affidavit.
Police recaptured Lampert and brought him in for processing.
Chinnery said Lampert asked to go to the bathroom and then head butted the officer escorting him to the facilities. Lampert was then brought to the Schneider Hospital were a doctor directed him to provide a urine sample. Chinnery said Lampert threw the sample at the doctor and a police officer.
At Lampert's advice of rights hearing on Thursday, Superior Court Judge Leon Kendall found probable cause for the arrest on charges of two counts of aggravated assault and battery, resisting arrest, disobeying a lawful order and destruction of property.
Kendall set bail at $2,000 and ordered Lampert be released into the custody of a third party.
Police did not set bail at the time of his arrest because he was listed as a John Doe.
Lampert told Kendall on Thursday that he gave Chinnery his identification, however, Chinnery told another officer to list him as John Doe even after he gave his first and last names several times.
Under V.I. law, police are allowed to hold those arrested without bail if they have not been identified.