12/21/24
August 11, 2006
Al and Bobby Unser charged with resisting arrest and obstructing officers: "Officer, do you know who i am?"
posted by ptluigi to auto racing at 07:45 AM - 17 comments
I can see them getting into it with cops. They both have an attitude. They did when they raced and they still do today. The only one of the bunch that seems decent is Al Jr.
posted by dbt302 at 09:12 AM on August 11, 2006
A methanol-fueled binge, no doubt. Another proud episode from the Unser clan.
posted by Sanman at 09:32 AM on August 11, 2006
I can attest to the 'attitude' that the Albuquerque PD has, having had a run-in with them over a traffic stop several years ago. Albuquerque is a much more violent city than many believe, and so, I do not blame them, I honestly respect them and understand why they do have an attitude.... the Unsers showed a little arrogance it seems, the fact that they are icons in the city lead me to believe they will get nothing more than a warning from the judge, or a similar slap on the wrist.
posted by mjkredliner at 09:33 AM on August 11, 2006
Let's not forget these officers were being shot at. Which I guess is a good of an excuse as any for overreacting to two guys who were only trying to get home.
posted by bperk at 09:33 AM on August 11, 2006
and dont forget, al jr got popped a few years back for dui and throwing his wife out of his car on the freeway. (his car was at a standstill, i hope)
posted by ptluigi at 09:36 AM on August 11, 2006
Hold on a sec - There's a NEW Mexico?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:56 AM on August 11, 2006
'The Land of Enchantment' has a reputation for being 'The Land of Entrapment' , I have heard.
posted by mjkredliner at 10:02 AM on August 11, 2006
There's a NEW Mexico? Yeah, and it's much cleaner than old Mexico
posted by HATER 187 at 10:30 AM on August 11, 2006
True the Unser clan are old school, but I have never known them to instigate trouble. I don't know how things are done in New Mexico, but here in Wi when an area is blocked off its along ways away from the scene of the crime. The cops that man the road blocks are new on the force, they have a gun, an attitude and no sense of how to deal with people. Im not saying the Unser's didn't speak their minds when the cops yelled at them, but it sounds like the road block was right at the end of his drive way. I would think the roadblock was a safe distance from from what was going on. I would think the whole situation could have been defused by checking their ID's and letting them go to his house. It sounds to me like the cops were just being dicks about the whole thing.
posted by CB900 at 12:25 PM on August 11, 2006
It sounds to me like the Unsers were being dicks about the whole thing, if cops have a road blocked off, you don't pass go, you don't collect $200. What would it have hurt for the Unsers to have obeyed the police officers? If they had been injured, shot, or otherwise hurt, the shit would hit the fan because the police didn't do their job to protect civilians. Primadonna assholes, that's what they are. Even if they'd had to spend the night at a local hotel, instead of going home, they, far more than most of us on spofi, would be able to afford that. I think it's far more likely the cops were just doing their job, and the Unsers were under the misguided notion that rules apply only to the little people, not them.
posted by tommybiden at 12:59 PM on August 11, 2006
It sounds to me like the Unsers were being dicks about the whole thing, if cops have a road blocked off, you don't pass go, you don't collect $200. Nah, not if the street is named after you. In fact, I think that makes you ranking officer. "Take 'em down, boys. This ice cream is melting all over my trunk."
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:28 PM on August 11, 2006
Weedy, you're crackin' me up all over the place lately, man, you're on fire. I've tried the veal, I remembered to tip my waitress, and tell me...are you gonna be here ALL week?
posted by tommybiden at 01:49 PM on August 11, 2006
I don't know about the "Do you know who I am?" trick, but when my wife was in labor, I was speeding to the hospital, and wanted to get pulled over. How many chances do you get to use the "My wife is in labor!" trick and actually mean it:)
posted by Drood at 05:43 PM on August 11, 2006
Maurice Clarett used the 'Do you know who I am?' line and it did him no good either.
posted by dmontez1392 at 12:19 PM on August 12, 2006
I stand by a variation of my earlier comment in the Dale Davis thread: When the damn police tell you to stop doing something, you stop doing it. Fairly simple, no matter how famous, rich, or arrogant you happen to be.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 11:27 AM on August 13, 2006
Maurice Clarett used the 'Do you know who I am?' line and it did him no good either. Only because the police did know who he was.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 11:28 AM on August 13, 2006
I wonder, does that "do you know who I am" tactic ever really work? During the standoff, authorities had cordoned off a road named after the Unser family. Though I guess in this case they could have pointed at the street sign for emphasis.