Football fans in New York will not be seeing defensive tackle Alan Branch suit up for the Buffalo Bills during the 2014-15 NFL season. A representative for the Bills organization announced on Aug. 24 that the veteran pass rusher has been released by the team following a drunk driving incident in Cheektowaga. This marks the latest episode in the changing fortunes of the eight-year pro who had been awarded a lucrative three-year contract extension by the Bills after the 2013 season.
Police say that they became suspicious when they observed Branch leaning out of his vehicle and vomiting on Aug. 23. The player then allegedly performed poorly during a field sobriety test before consenting to a breath test. The breath test is said to have recorded a blood alcohol level of .14 percent. Branch was subsequently taken into custody and charged with DWI.
This case shows that being charged with drunk driving can have serious professional consequences. These come in addition to criminal sanctions that may include fines, probation and even jail time. A DWI conviction may also result in a lengthy driving ban which could make getting to and from work a challenge. A criminal defense attorney may challenge a drunk driving charge by questioning the validity of evidence such as police reports and toxicology test results. The statements of law enforcement officers may be vague or contradictory, and tests used to measure a driver’s blood alcohol level are not always reliable.
Source: Syracuse.com, ‘Buffalo Bills DT Alan Branch arrested for DWI after police saw him vomiting out his driver’s side door”, Matthew Fairburn, Aug. 24, 2014
Source: WHAM, “Bills release Alan Branch after DWI arrest”, August 24, 2014
Source: WHAM, “Bills release Alan Branch after DWI arrest”, August 24, 2014