Paramedics: Police officer coached responses of ex-San Jose cop involved in accident

[The Straight Story]

Paramedics: Police officer coached responses of ex-San Jose cop involved in accident


A San Jose police officer allegedly coached the responses of a former cop involved in a traffic accident and tried to prevent her from being taken to the hospital, according to paramedics interviewed by investigators.

Soon after Sandra Woodall crashed her Cadillac Escalade on March 25, sending two people to the hospital, she told paramedics that she was just out of rehab and had no idea how much she had just been drinking or even that it was 2008. The paramedics smelled alcohol on Woodall's breath, according to accounts in a report obtained today by the Mercury News.

Police did not administer a sobriety or a blood test at the scene and they apparently did not request Valley Medical Center to draw a sample of her blood. Her medical record at the hospital noted "ETOH," which means alcohol intoxication.

And yet she was not cited by police.

Woodall is currently an investigator for the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. Her husband is a San Jose police officer and father-in-law is a former cop and now also is a DA's investigator.

One of the investigating police officers found evidence that Woodall had been eating while she was driving. There was a container of egg rolls from Jack in the Box and spilled ranch dressing covered her purse.

"Based on the items I located and the condition they were found, I believed that Woodall was eating while she was driving," the officer said. "I believe this inattentive driving was a serious factor in the collision."

The police report raises new questions about the police handling of the accident.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9809359?source=most_viewed

[sasquatch]

1. Wow, they charged her with a felony for that

I guess her legal career is over, thank God for that.

[safeinOhio]

2. Professional courtesy,

or sometimes called corruption. Fight it when you see it.

[Edweird]

3. Happens ALL THE TIME. This one got out of control.

[Fumesucker]

4. I have police in my family..

This kind of thing is incredibly common.

Even the relatives of officers get away with stuff because of who they are..