I’d like to preface by stating while I don’t consider myself an emotional person, I’ve cried more these past 6 months than I ever have in my (39 yo) life which hasn’t been an easy one prior to this.
I’ve been permanently maimed and seriously incapacitated due to an arrest that happened on 10/20 that caused a bilateral shoulder injury. This was my first time ever being arrested. That alone is stressful enough to deal with but on top of that, I haven’t been the same (physically) since it happened and I worry daily, that I never will be again.
I’m still fighting the DUI (& possession of marijuana & mushrooms) charge in court. The case has been continued every month since 10/27/25.
My lawyer agrees I don’t look intoxicated on the body cam footage (bc I WASN’T!) however still attempted to convince me taking a plea deal (pleading guilty to everything) since I admitted to smoking marijuana hours prior bc in his opinion, it’s the best possible outcome for me
I was pulled over bc I forgot to turn my headlights back on as I was exiting a well lit gas station onto a road with street lights. I heard the first siren chirp as I was exiting the Indiana gas station on my way back home from IL to NC. I immediately had multiple officers looking in my car and asking questions.
They used an empty single marijuana joint container as PC to search my vehicle and “fumbling w/ my wallet” too long, in order to justify the road sobriety test which was performed at the police station. Their justification for the failed RST was “eyelid twitching” & “not touching toe to heal on two of the line steps.” (I was wearing UGG boots)
The officer told me he was “breaking protocol by letting” me sit in the front seat of his SUV patrol vehicle. (I’m 5’ 110 lbs) This breach in protocol, combined with the duration of time in the double lock cuffs, resulted in the bilateral shoulder injury.
I’ve had one (R) shoulder surgery repair for a complex type II SLAP tear (1/22) already. I’ve been doing physical therapy over 6 weeks and the pain in both shoulders is still unbearable so now I’m waiting for an appt w/ a better orthopedic surgeon.
I’ve been suffering for 6 months already and I still have a very long way to go to full recovery, meanwhile the medical bills are becoming overwhelming. All of this bc I forgot to turn my headlights on!! I’m nauseous with pain a couple times a week from it, let alone the fact that I don’t believe the arrest should’ve happened in the first place!
My DUI lawyer who I’ve already paid $1000’s (I really couldn’t afford) seems like a total dud. I have zero faith in his capability to fight the charges at this point. I’ve also been unsuccessful at finding a PI lawyer to take my case… they seem to all lose interest after learning there wasn’t “excessive force.”
I’m really at a loss now, feel totally hopeless most days. I know I should continue looking for a lawyer but after being turned down so many times I’ve been so discouraged.. feel like giving up most days! Any advice is welcome and appreciated.. TIA 🙏