By Emerson Drake
12/29/10
A veteran Modesto police officer charged with drunken driving in a Nov. 2 crash in which he drove his Jeep Wrangler off Scenic Drive failed to appear at a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, but was excused when an Asst. District Attorney told the court he (Parsons) was having a procedure done at a local hospital.
Prosecutors have alleged that officer Todd Joseph Parsons’ blood alcohol content was 0.20 percent, two and a half times the level in which a driver is considered under the influence, according to the criminal complaint he was to appear for on Monday December 27th.
On Tuesday the 28th, attorney Frank Carson had asked a judge to compel Officer Parsons to appear at a trial where he's been named as a witness for the prosecution.
The judge made an inquiry as to why Parsons might not be available, Carsons was about to inform the judge as to Parson's legal dificulties, an armed MPD officer disrupted procedings by bellowing at Carson from the back of the court room, Don't you go there, or something to that effect.
Since there was concern in Carson's mind regarding the armed officer's belligerent outburst, he asked for a transcript containing the outburst be made available for further examination.
Questions regarding officer Parson's status were directed to the Modesto Police Department but to this point they have refused to comment.
