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Nov 11, 2008 5:46 pm US/Central
Tarrant County Judge Charged With DWI
(CBS 11 / TXA 21)
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Johnson County Sheriff's Office
A well-known Tarrant County judge was arrested this weekend and charged with driving while intoxicated.
Alvarado police arrested Elizabeth Berry on Saturday along Interstate 35 west in Alvarado.
About 4:07 p.m., an Alvarado police officer noticed a gray Volvo SUV going 92 miles per hour in a 65 miles per hour zone, Chief John Allen said.
"They (officers) observed empty beer cans in the vehicle, in the SUV," said Allen. "They also observed her physical appearance and demeanor as somebody that had been drinking. And, the cover officer noticed that she had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage."
Allen also said Berry "did very badly" on a field sobriety test and another officer noticed the smell of alcohol on her breath.
She was taken to the Johnson County Jail in Cleburne, but refused a breathalyzer test.
After a warrant was obtained, blood was drawn about 7 p.m., officials said. Results from the blood draw are pending.
She was booked into the Johnson County Jail and released on bond about 10 p.m.
Police officers say Berry's legal experience probably affected the way she handled herself after the stop. "They're going to know the ins and outs of what they've got to do," Allen said, "because of the past that they've had with their clients. So its not like your normal citizen who may not be up on the law as someone who is actually educated on the law."
Authorities said dash cam video will not be released because of the ongoing investigation.
Assistant District Attorney Bob Gill refused comment on the Berry case. He also would not say whether the District Attorney will seek to move cases out of Berry's court that could be a conflict of interest.
In a faxed statement, Berry's attorney, Mark G. Daniel, said: "Judge Berry is a very highly respected judge. We are presently doing our own investigation. It is my belief that this manner will likely be determined to be unfounded."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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