The Mono County Sheriff’s Office issued the following press release:
On Sunday, August 28, 2011, at approximately 11:00 p.m., Mono County Sheriff’s Department Deputies stopped a Tioga motor home for not observing the speed limit as it traveled north bound on Hwy 395 north of Bridgeport.
The deputy made contact with the individuals inside of the vehicle, identified as Ismael Santiago, age 34, Francine Hoffman, age 55, and John Ottombrino, age 62, all of San Diego, CA. As the deputy made contact with the driver, Ismael Santiago, Mr. Santiago fell off the driver’s seat landing in between the driver and passenger seats while trying to hand his driver’s license to the deputy. Mr. Santiago was showing signs of being under the influence of drugs.
Upon further investigation, Mr. Santiago, stated he had a medical marijuana card and a search of the vehicle was conducted to verify Mr. Santiago was in compliance with the medical marijuana laws. It was determined that Mr. Santiago had a false card and was placed under arrest for the possession of marijuana.
Upon further search of the motor home, 19 grams of hashish; several capsules of ecstasy and LSD; and several containers of cannabis milk were recovered. The two passengers, Francine Hoffman and John Ottombrino, were placed under arrest for the possession of controlled substances. All three individuals were taken into custody at the Mono County Jail and charges are pending with the District Attorney’s Office.
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The reason people are getting upset is because broke mono county is targeting and harrassing Burners. This article doesnt talk about all the burners searched and harrassed by the sheriff and his deputies. Unloading there whole packed for a week of camping car by these cops and we all know they dont do this gingerly or neatly. Finding nothing and and moving on to the next. I know personally driving a motorehome through 395 I spend hundereds each way on food, gas etc…. Well the harrassment is going to effect the citizens of Mono county. I am not a drug advocate by any means but I am a rights advocate. Having a DL check on the 395 with dogs? Great job Mono county Sheriffs. Wont be seeing you anytime soon. Theres several ways to get to BM
LOL the burning man angle .. yeah I can see that, and seriously, I can totally agree with .. the amount of drugs being carried, and used along the highway. Pretty scary when you stop and think of it, I have seen the results of abuse of both drugs and alcohol, and just plain carelessness by drivers over the years.
Eamon, some of the drugs are in fact Made by God, some are not, and yes I believe that there is medicinal uses for some, there is no denying that fact, and yes, the abuse, as always is there as is anything man gets his hands on.
If one needs to use it, then use it, but don’t go out and drive or operate anything that can adversely effect the well being of others. I hear ya.
This is why things have to be “legalized” .. man can not behave accordingly, so you have to tell some how to act when they can’t be responsible in their own behavior.
It’s a shame that these people have abused God’s natural medicine, “legalized” by man.
I think we have more common ground then we give each other credit for.
Wayne I kind of doubt they’ll make it this year, but we should keep an eye out for them next year. I can only imagine the amount of drugs that have rolled up 395 in the last week all headed for the playa.
Some people just can’t hide it.
What a dope!
Just more Burning Man wreckage scattered along 395.
Wow. These fools have actually done something stupid enough to cause agreements on this website. Color me amazed, and actually agreeing with these posts.
Rob….Really think they’ll have enough $$$ to bail out,get their vehicle out of impound(hopefully the motorhome has a 30 day hold on it),and continue on their journey to Burning Man?….doubt it…
You won’t get an arguement here from me.
I wonder if they’ll get release in time to make it to their destination, which was probably Burning Man.
In no way would I ever defend this idiot. Driving faster than the speed limit while under the influence? How would you like to be tailgated by him while he was falling off the driver’s seat?
But!
I would like to see the statistics comparing the number of citations for drunk driving with the number of citations for driving under the influence of drugs on the same stretch of highway for the last year.
Just curious….
As usual when a druggie is caught some imbecile comes to his defense saying but, but but, but, but, what about drinking? Yes, drunk driving is wrong TOO. So get a life and be responsible. NEITHER drunk driving, nor driving under the influence of drugs are acceptable!! One is not an excuse for the other!
Oher than the complete idiot jury who found O.J. not guilty of of murder, the next stupidest group of people, as a group, are the complete idiots who voted to make medical marijuna legal. Medical marijuana? Can you say Oxymoron? The youth of this state love it!. They pay a Dr. $75 and get all the marijuana they want…..the DUH factor strikes again!!
@Tom –
While we’re pointing out oxymoron’s, let’s consider Marijuana is basically illegal and alcohol and tobacco is legal.
More than 440000 deaths in the United States each year are attributable to tobacco use.
Alcohol abuse kills some 75000 Americans each year.
There is no record of documented cannabis-induced fatality.
Does anybody see something wrong with this picture?
In any recorded fatality, the reason is documented when one of the above reasons for being impaired (and other causes) are shown to be the cause, whether it be evidence at the scene and or autopsy reports show as such for the reason.
So in fact, there is documentation showing the use of documented cannabis-induced fatality.
I’m pretty sure, but I can not say for fact, without looking it up, that there are most likely some studies out there that can show data to give you a statistical figure to post with those other figures.
I’m not defending either of these types of impairment what so ever. They both are against the law and one is not less than the other when it comes to being wrong. Impaired is impaired.
Thank you…
But — maybe you should take a reading comprehension class…..
Which post are you replying to??
Tom…What you say is so true about people coming to the defense of drug-impaired drivers…and when people,even out of towners, are caught with drugs or drug paraphonalia in our area.What gets me is it happens even if its the hard drugs they are caught with,if it so happens they are also are in possession of marijuana….and a medical marijuana card….along with the hard drugs.Almost like that med card should give everyone free rights to do as they please,with whatever drug they want.
Apples and oranges big guy – apples and oranges. I’m willing to bet that when the blood work comes back from the lab, not only will driver-lacking-balance show to have been UTI of Marijuana, but will also have LSD and MDMA in his system; I think the pot was the least of his worry.
I agree. We should have held out for complete decriminalization and kept our kids out of the hands of doctors, who push deadly prescription drugs. Now we have turned marijuana into a true gateway drug.
Would’ve liked to have seen the results of these arrests…..and the posts on this story….if the MMJ card had been legit.For those that think you can’t be driving under the influence of marijuana,or it doesn’t impair your judgement,how about this one?Like I said a couple months ago,if your gonna travel HWY.395 all high and stupid…and in possession of illegal drugs,you’d better choose another area to be doing it than the Lee Vining-Bridgeport section of the highway.LOTS of VERY pro-active Law Enforcement traveling the area.Good job,men in blue….
Let’s review…I’ve got a motorhome full of drugs AND I’m gonna draw attention to myself by speeding down the highway. Then, I’m gonna give the deputy a bogus MM card and fall out of my seat in the process. I wonder why they call it DOPE…