Sheriff Joe wrecks his car

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/issue...dougherty.html

<snip>

He scoped out a parking space and made his final approach.

But then, something inexplicable happened.

Instead of stopping, Arpaio's vehicle sped across the parking lot,
careened over a curb, crashed across a large boulder and finally came
to a stop on a sidewalk.

There were two flat tires, the front wheels were damaged, the radiator
was leaking, the front bumper was crumpled, the air conditioner was
mangled, the front suspension destroyed and the rear driver side
quarter panel was dented.

Arpaio's car had smashed into the curb and boulder with such force
that the drive shaft snapped.

The sheriff was lucky he hit the big rock. If Arpaio's car had
traveled a few more feet, it would have ended up on busy East
Palisades Boulevard.

<snip>

The source said the deputies told bystanders not to take more
photographs and confiscated onlookers' film.

The MCSO wouldn't respond to questions about this incident either.

According to Deputy Bierwalter's report, which I obtained under the
Arizona Public Records Law, Arpaio offered a vague explanation for the
mayhem:

"Mr. Arpaio said he had pulled into the parking lot of the Osco Drug
store and was going to park his vehicle in a space on the north side
of the parking lot when his vehicle would not stop."

<snip>

Did Arpaio's Crown Victoria -- the same model that is infamous for
exploding in accidents -- really have a mechanical failure that
somehow kept it from stopping?

I seriously doubt the vehicle suddenly threw itself in drive. It's far
more likely that Arpaio, for whatever reason, lost control of the
police cruiser.

It's well-known that Arpaio gets easily rattled and confused.

Last summer I approached him in a parking lot following a Scottsdale
campaign appearance and asked why he drove his county police cruiser
to political events. He became so flustered that he inadvertently
turned on his flashing police lights while he was backing up.

My hunch is that Arpaio simply became confused when he pulled into the
Osco lot and hit the accelerator instead of the brake. Why is
anybody's guess. Maybe it's just because he's old.