Alcohol and Domestic Disputes [POLL]

The Laramie Police Department responded to two drinking related domestic dispute calls over the weekend of August 9 and August 10.

According to Commander Cushman with the Laramie Police Department, the first case involved someone reporting violence in a downtown alley. Police responded to the report at the 200 block of Grand Avenue at 1:54 a.m. on Saturday, August 9. An investigation led to the arrest of 28-year-old Ramon Jesus Lopez for Strangulation of a Household Member and a warrant for multiple misdemeanors. Strangulation of a Household Member is a felony and is punishable by imprisonment of not more than five years. Commander Cushman said in an email that there was obvious evidence of over consumption of alcohol leading up to the incident.

Police responded to another domestic disturbance on Sunday, August 10. In this case, the domestic dispute was reported, but before the officers arrived at the scene one of the people involved left in his pickup. Commander Cushman says it was alert police work that led to officers on the way to the dispute discovering the white pickup truck travelling in the 900 block of Snowy Range Road. This led to the arrest of 32-year-old John S. Petty for Felony DWUI. Other charged in relation to the domestic dispute may be forthcoming.

Commander Cushman says this is considered a felony DWUI because Petty had more than three DWUI convictions within the last 10 years. Felony DWUI can be fined up to $10,000 and is punishable of up to seven years in prison or both.

Commander Cushman notes that both cases involved alcohol as a contributor to the domestic issues.

We want to know what you think when it comes to alcohol and domestic violence. Do you think the consumption of alcohol increases domestic disputes?