BPD report: Christmas Parade crash suspect had BAC three times legal limit in second DUI case
The DUI suspect in the Christmas Parade crash case had a blood alcohol content three times the legal limit when he drove into a Ford dealership in April and was arrested, according to newly released reports filed in Kern County Superior Court.
The reports by Bakersfield Police Department officers say that Alan Lewis Booth, 72, had a blood alcohol level of 0.24% when he was arrested April 17.
Booth is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol level that exceeded 0.08% and driving with a suspended license. Booth’s lawyer, Jeremy Brehmer, entered not guilty pleas to all the charges on his client's behalf on April 19.
According to BPD's report, Booth went to the Jim Burke Ford dealership to repair the front passenger side tire on his Ford Escape on April 17. He was sitting with a duffel bag in his lap in a Ford employee’s office. Officers later found the duffel bag contained an open bottle of vodka that was partially full and may have spilled in the bag, according to the report.
Booth smelled of alcohol, his speech was slurred and his eyes were red and watery as he spoke to officers, according to the BPD report. He admitted to officers that he had one shot of vodka before driving to the dealership, the report said.
According to the report, Booth told officers he drank vodka around noon and went to the dealership around 2 p.m. He left the dealership to go to the post office before returning. He confirmed that he did not drink any alcohol at the dealership.
Before BPD officers conducted a field sobriety test, Booth advised them he had arthritis that impacts his ability to walk. BPD officers arrested Booth at the dealership around 6:30 p.m. April 17.
Following this second DUI arrest, Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer and prosecutor Ken Russell requested Booth’s bail amount be set at $1 million, which was granted by the courts. He remains in custody.
In January, Booth was charged with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of driving under the influence of alcohol, one court of driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol level higher than 0.08% and resisting a peace officer.
Booth is suspected of crashing his Ford F-150 truck into a crowd of people near 21 and H streets minutes before the annual Bakersfield Christmas Parade on Dec. 7. Booth was not arrested until Dec. 28 because he was recovering in a hospital from his injuries from the crash.
According to BPD police reports for that case, Booth drank vodka and beer before driving. He told officers he wanted to go home and BPD officers pulled Booth out of the car before he could start driving again.
Three people were injured in the crash, including Arnold Rios, 77. Another person jumped out of the way of the truck but was also injured.
Booth is scheduled to appear in court for both cases on May 30.
