The highest-ranking judge in Pinal County said he did not receive special treatment during his New Year’s Eve arrest on suspicion of DUI.
Casa Grande police arrested Judge Stephen McCarville of Pinal County Superior Court for a traffic violation.
Police video showed McCarville having difficulty completing roadside sobriety tests. He admitted to drinking “two or three beers”. McCarville also admitted to having an open container of alcohol in the car.
“It has been a long week,” the judge told the officer. “This is embarrassing. I’m sorry.”
McCarville was handcuffed and driven in the back of a patrol car to the police station. At the police station, blood was collected. McCarville was also tested for drug poisoning, which is known as the Drug Recognition Examination (DRE).
The official reported that the McCarville breathalyzer test recorded 0.018 BAC. This was well below the legal limit of 0.08 for driving in Arizona. The report also said that McCarville exhibited signs consistent with central nervous system stimulants, but his extremely high blood pressure could also be due to an unknown medical condition.
McCarville was released that night.
The attorney general for the city of Casa Grande told ABC15 that the police are still waiting for the results of the blood tests and that no charges will be filed until the results are analyzed. He said an external prosecutor is also likely to handle the case to avoid any potential conflict of interest. Both DUI and open container violations are misdemeanors.
Judge McCarville declined ABC15’s request for an interview. Through a spokesman, McCarville said he did not mention his position to police officers and did not receive preferential treatment. The judge indicated that he was being tested for a medical diagnosis that explained high blood pressure.