Skip to main content

Driver arrested for DUI requests Snapchat selfie with officer

Snapchat Emoji Camera Updates
Maurizio Pesce/Flickr
Taken into custody during early August, 20-year-old Gilbert Phelps of Iowa was arrested on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. The car Phelps was driving was originally pulled over for speeding in addition to an obstructed registration sticker on the license plate. According to the arrest report, the officer on the scene smelled alcohol coming from the vehicle and Phelps allegedly admitted that he smoked marijuana prior to driving.

phelps-selfieWhile the preliminary breathalyzer test cleared Phelps with a 0.000% score, a “Certified Drug Recognition Expert” issued a field sobriety test and determined that Phelps wasn’t in a condition that would allow him to safely operate the vehicle.

Of course, that decision may have been influenced by a request from Phelps for a Snapchat selfie with the officer that stopped him.

The officer stated that he “happily obliged” and watched Phelps as the uploaded Snapchat photo included a caption filled with emojis. Those emoji graphics included a police car, placed next to a regular car which was placed next to a tow truck graphic. It’s possible that Phelps sent the photo to a friend or family member in order to alert them about his impending arrest and that his automobile may be hauled away by a tow truck.

phelps-mugshotAfter being transported to the police station, Phelps’ desire for additional photographic proof of his arrest continued with yet another selfie. Likely one of the officers in charge of booking, the selfie shows Phelps smiling while the booking officer is in the background giving a thumbs up with a large grin on his face.

Not surprisingly, the smile on the face of Phelps vanished when it was time to take his mugshot for the booking record.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Flacy
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
How to remove location data from your iPhone photos
How to transfer photos from an iPhone to an iPhone

We all love making memories, and a great way to collect those memories is to take a quick snap of a gorgeous landscape, a party in full swing, or a particularly incredible meal. The Apple iPhone now also adds a location to your pictures, meaning it can collate those images together into a location-themed album, or show you all the shots you've taken in a specific location. It's a fun little addition, and it's one that adds a lot of personality to the Photos app.

Read more
‘Photoshopped’ royal photo causes a stir
The Princess of Wales with her children.

[UPDATE: In a message posted on social media on Monday morning, Princess Kate said that she herself edited the image, and apologized for the fuss that the picture had caused. “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she wrote, adding, "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."]

Major press agencies have pulled a photo of the U.K.’s Princess of Wales and her children amid concerns that it has been digitally manipulated.

Read more
Nikon sale: Get up to $700 off select Nikon cameras and lenses
nikon d780 review product  1

Crutchfield has a huge sale on many different Nikon cameras with some of the best camera deals that we’ve seen in a while. With nearly 30 different items in the sale, the best thing that avid photographers can do is take a look for themselves. However, if you want a little insight before you dive in, take a look at what we have to suggest below.

What to shop for in the Nikon sale
Nikon makes some of the best DSLR cameras around with our overall favorite -- the -- available for $2,197 reduced from $2,297. The camera is perfect for both photographers and videographers with a 24.5-megapixel full-frame image sensor. Its rugged magnesium-alloy body is weather-sealed against dust, dirt, and moisture so it’s great for all occasions. The Nikon EXPEED 6 image processor is optimized for low-light performance while maintaining long battery life with an autofocus sensor module with support for 51 focus points. You just need to add a lens to reap the benefits with features like the 273-point phase-detection AF system detecting and tracking subjects throughout the entire frame.

Read more