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Grand Island mayor charged with reckless driving
We have learned Mayor Jay Vavricek is being charged with reckless driving after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence earlier this month. But, still his blood alcohol content remains a mystery.
The Howard County Attorney says no DUI charges were filed Monday morning and the Mayor will not stand trial for DUI charges. The county attorney charged him with reckless driving, which is a class 3 misdemeanor. He did not discuss many details. But residents want to know about the blood test results. Since Mayor Jay Vavricek's arrest on suspicion of DUI, authorities have not been forthcoming about his blood alcohol level results. "If it would have been any other citizen, we would have known that day or the day after and I don't know why public officials have such a leniency on it," said resident Sabras Sanchez. Howard County Attorney David Schroeder received the test results last week, but he said he would not release them due to the pending investigation. The Attorney also added he never discusses details of a case outside of the courtroom. But the Mayor's arrest on suspicion of DUI happened at the same time Omaha State Senator Scott Lautenbaugh was busted for driving while intoxicated. His test results were released within 24 hours. "When it's a smaller town, if it was Lincoln or some other town maybe it might not come out as much, but in a smaller town like this they try and hide stuff a little bit more, maybe, and I just think it should be out in the open like everything else is," resident Tom Townsley said. On March 2nd a 911 call led a state trooper to Vavricek driving on the shoulder of Hwy 281 four miles north of Highway 58. Vavricek was facing a first offense DUI charge. But is now being charged with reckless driving. The class 3 misdemeanor carries a possible penalty of three months in jail and or $500 in fines. Residents still call into question why no results have been released. "Any other citizen would have known a lot sooner and get punished, I've known people that got a DUI, they don't get out of it," said Sanchez. "I think when you become a public figure you are open to the public, he should have to have those results just like anybody else would," said Joan McKee. Howard County Attorney David Schroeder says the facts of the case should come out during the court appearance, which is set for the morning of Wednesday, March 20th. |
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