A Florida man, whose arrest footage went viral last week, has been found guilty of driving under the influence. The incident involved Calvin Riley, 56, who was arrested by Tallahassee Police Department officers in 2023. The edited police body camera footage of the arrest circulated on social media, showing an officer opening a bottle of liquor, pouring it out, and placing it back inside Riley's vehicle as evidence.
During the trial, the jury deliberated for less than two hours before reaching a verdict. Riley was sentenced to 10 days in the Leon County Jail, along with six months of probation. Additionally, he must attend a DUI course, perform 50 hours of community service, undergo random breathalyzer tests, and have his driver's license suspended for six months.
The trial involved testimony from the three officers present during Riley's traffic stop. Prosecutors argued that Riley admitted to drinking at a bar on the night of his arrest and displayed signs of impairment. The defense, however, questioned the credibility of the officers, pointing out inconsistencies in their testimonies and the handling of evidence.
One of the officers admitted to making a mistake by opening the bottle of vodka and putting it back in the car. Despite this, the officers denied that the bottle was used as evidence to support the DUI charge. Riley, before being sentenced, expressed remorse for his actions and apologized for the incident.
The jury had to determine whether Riley was the driver of the vehicle and if he was impaired at the time of his arrest. Ultimately, Riley was found guilty of driving under the influence, while the charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license was dropped during the trial.
