BODY CAM: San Juan County, Utah Sheriff’s sergeant let driver go minutes before alleged DUI crash

On Feb. 5, 2025, a San Juan County Sheriff's Office sergeant pulled over Michael Steven Bowman, 39, from New Mexico for going 102mph on state Route 191 in southeastern Utah.

After pulling Bowman over, Sgt. Chaz Black wrote a traffic citation in his patrol car. When he returned, he said he noticed that Bowman appeared to be asleep, and Black woke him up.

Body camera footage showed Black leaning into Bowman's car and trying to detect any signs of alcohol, but Black reported not smelling anything.

Just six minutes after being allowed to leave the traffic stop, Bowman lost control of his car and caused a three-vehicle crash with injuries, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

Bowman was booked into jail and later charged with three misdemeanors, including driving under the influence of alcohol with a prior conviction and negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury.

Read more: https://ksltv.com/?p=784459

Note: The San Juan County Sheriff's Office redacted the video, which KSL appealed, arguing it violated the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). The county denied the appeal. However, the sheriff's office missed redacting a small part of the video, allowing for a glimpse of what Bowman looks like.

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