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New video proves Resnick lied to police officers in initial stops PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jeff Garvas   
Saturday, 05 February 2005

As can be seen in the first three traffic stop videos released by law enforcement, anti-CCW Ohio State Supreme Court Justice Alice Robie Resnick repeatedly denied having consumed alcohol or taken medication when first approached by police at a gas station in Bowling Green and later when pulled over on I-75 South near Cygnet in Wood County.

However, the Toledo Blade is now reporting that law, just as Sgt. W.H. Stidham of the Walbridge patrol post was about to administer a portable breath test inside his vehicle, the only Democrat remaining in statewide office had not been honest with the other officers, and in fact first tried to continue her story with the OSHP sergeant.

As the video now shows, only when presented with the field sobriety test did Resnick finally admit she had "something to drink" and then expressed disbelief with the test's result, 0.216 - more than twice the legal limit for driving while intoxicated.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

"I am tired," the Blade says she first told the sergeant. "I have a mother-in-law who's 97 and has been in the hospital. I was taking care of her. I have a husband who is on dialysis, and I have got to get to Columbus. I have not been drinking... I will be very careful if you just let me go."

More from the Blade's recounting of the video:

    The video recorded the audio of their conversation while it remained focused on the police car and highway ahead.

    "I'm hoping you show up 000," Sergeant Stidham said as he prepared to give her the portable test, the results of which are not admissible in court.

    "I won't," she said. "I won't. I won't. I did have something to drink. I don't know if I had..."

    Sergeant Stidham: "How long ago was that, do you think?"

    Justice Resnick: "I don't know."

    Sergeant Stidham: "I mean, a couple of hours?"

    Justice Resnick: "I'm just really upset."

    Later, after seeing the results, she said, "Well, I don't believe that."

    Sergeant. Stidham: "You're showing a 0.216."

    Justice Resnick: "My God."

    Sergeant Stidham: "That's well over double what you're allowed to have."

    Justice Resnick: "I can't believe that. I don't believe that test. Do you have another test that I can take?"
It is important to keep in mind that this conversation was occurring more than two hours after 911 calls originally began pouring in to the OSHP about Resnick's erratic driving on I-75.

Click here to hear some of this latest video, as part of a WNBS 10TV Eyewitness news report.

During her conversation with Sergeant Stidham in the patrol car's front seat, the Blade reports the 17-year high-court veteran repeatedly promised to be careful and asked to be allowed to leave.

    "I decide all these cases in your favor and, my golly, look what you're doing to me," she told him at one point.

    Later, en route to the Findlay station, she said, "I'm the only Democrat on the court, and you're forcing me to retire."
Ohio’s Code of Judicial Conduct specifically advises judges to respect and comply with the law, always act in a way that promotes public confidence and not "allude to" their judgeship during police traffic stops.

Furthermore, The Blade also reports Resnick is backing away from a plan to have taxpayers foot the bill for her future transportation to Columbus. According to the story, Chief Justice Moyer contacted Justice Resnick after The Blade reported that she planned to have her Toledo-based law clerk, a court employee, drive her to Columbus for oral arguments or other court business.

"She informed him that, while it still remains uncertain exactly what travel arrangements she might make, she will not make arrangements at taxpayers' expense," court spokesman Chris Davey said.

Contact information for the Supreme Court follows:

    The Supreme Court of Ohio
    Chris Davy
    65 South Front Street
    Columbus, Ohio 43215-3431
    800.826.9010
    614.387.9000
Bowling Green city prosecutor Matthew Reger, who is refusing to prosecute Resnick for feeling and eluding a law enforcement officer or for disobeying an officer, can be reached as follows:

    Matthew Reger, City Prosecutor
    City Administrative Services Building
    304 N. Church Street
    Bowling Green, OH 43402-2399
    Telephone: (419) 354-6204
    Fax: (419) 352-1262
    E-mail: \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
In upholding the constitutionality of the (now defunct) concealed carry ban in 2003, Resnick and the majority found that the restriction on the right to bear arms for self-defense was necessary because it served "a compelling government interest'' - that of protecting the "public safety."

Ironic, isn't it, that drunk drivers truly DO present a documented threat to public safety, while concealed handgun licenseholders have been proven to be some of the most law-abiding citizens in our society?