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Oxford Police Say Some Drinkers Arrested for Their Own Good
It’s a fact of life in a college town — students get arrested for public intoxication. The Oxford Police Department says it happens more than 10 times per week on average.
Officer Matt Samuels has made some of those arrests and says some people are charged simply to help keep them safe.
“One of the big things we look at is, you know, are they capable of making decisions on their own and you know, can they actually get to their house or you know, make it to a cab or call a ride or something. Some can’t even operate a phone, so that’s one of the things we look at,” Samuels said.
Bartenders try to do their part when it comes to serving customers, and they try to be alert to those who are intoxicated. Cara Jerozal, a bartender at Bacchus restaurant, says it’s not an exact science.
“I would say it depends on a case by case basis. Some people can drink more than others obviously, depending on size, and if they’ve eaten or not, and I would just watch to make sure they’re not like passing out at the bar or showing signs that they’re way too drunk,” Jerozal said.
One student charged with public intoxication didn’t expect to face arrest after interacting with a horse.
“Having a good time with my friends, walking home… these two horse cops walk down the alley way and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love horses,'” said the student, who wishes to remain anonymous. “I have horses so naturally I wanted to pet the horse. So I walked up, petted the horse on the rear and then I got the cuffs, off to jail I went,” Webb said.
The student is fighting the charge, which is a common one. OPD reports they make an average of 43 public intoxication arrests a month.
However, police say people can avoid risking arrest quite easily. They recommend that you drink responsibly, always have a designated driver on hand and if need be, call the station and they can take you home.
Story contributed by Jules Marcantonio
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John Doe
April 21, 2017 at 11:12 am
“It’s a fact of life in college towns – students get arrested for public intoxication.”
That opening statement is an absolute joke because I do not know nor hear of any other college towns handing out as many public intoxes as the city of Oxford. The cops are a joke and hand out those PI’s to any kid they see walking out the bar like candy. Doesn’t happen anywhere else. All they do is harass the college kids, but hey I guess that’s all they have to do.
Sick of Oxford
April 21, 2017 at 1:32 pm
Or arrest for public drunk while you are sitting waiting for a cab to take you home.
Rachael Rebel
April 21, 2017 at 1:39 pm
I agree 100%. While I am appreciative that the police admit to “sometimes arresting a person for their own good”, if a student is not being belligerent and is cooperating with police, they should not be slapped with a PI just because “they can’t operate a cell phone”. If a bar has served them to the point of incoherence they should be liable and the student should be taken to the hospital not thrown in a jail cell. 45 PI’s a month is unheard of. It’s borderline entrapment as far as I’m concerned. Allow 18 yrs old into bars and allow them to drink on a fake ID all night- bar makes a crap ton of $$ and when it gets out of control, call the police. Police then raid the place and start issuing fake id and PI’s left and right. Police make $$. Then parents hire a local attorney so their kid’s future isn’t f-ed. More $$ earned. It’s a racket. If a student is so intoxicated they can’t make a call, they need medical assistance not a ride to jail. Oh, and what about the OM athletes who have drug/alcohol charges and numerous “strikes”… back on the field or court the next day. School needs that $$! Totally unjust.