Tuesday, December 28, 1999
Bartenders testify in DUI case
Man on trial for backing into stroller
BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — Ronald Wayne Jarrett drank two to three beers and at least three shots of tequila before backing his truck into a stroller with two children, bartenders testified Monday.
Amy Reed Osborne, the mother of the injured youngsters, testified in Butler County Common Pleas Court that Mr. Jarrett staggered to his truck.
She said he never looked behind him before he backed it into the stroller while she talked on a pay phone.
“When I realized he was not going to stop, I yelled, "Hey! Stop! Stop!'” she said.
Mr. Jarrett, 34, of Hamilton, is on trial for an aggravated vehicular assault charge and his sixth drunken-driving charge.
The collision occurred at 5:30 p.m. April 21 in the parking lot next to the Pub Club, 610 Eaton St., Hamilton.
Mrs. Osborne's son, Samuel Abshear, 2, required at least 15 stitches on his head and inside his mouth.
He was hospitalized for three days.
His sister, Sandra Abshear, 1, was treated at a hospital for a cut behind an ear and was released.
Judge H.J. Bressler permitted Mrs. Osborne to show the jury the scar on Samuel's face and two scars on the back of his head.
She said the scars were more visible when his hair was shorter.
Deanna Nunn, manager and bartender at the Pub Club, said Mr. Jarrett walked into the bar at 2:45 p.m., saying, “He said he had a horrible day at work and was ready to get drunk.”
Ms. Nunn said he may have had five shots of tequila but she wasn't sure of the number.
Bartender Melissa Ann Sullender said she thought he drank up to 31/2 beers and 31/2 shots of tequila.
She and Ms. Nunn said that after consuming those drinks in about 45 minutes, he dropped his head on the bar and fell asleep.
Ms. Nunn said she awakened him and helped him to a table, where he slept for about two hours.
Ms. Nunn and Ms. Sullender said his eyes were bloodshot and he was staggering.
“He was drunk,” Ms. Sullender said.
Ms. Nunn said Mr. Jarrett left the bar while she was in the bathroom.
Defense attorney Dan Hurr said Mr. Jarrett had fewer drinks than the bartenders said and his view was obstructed when he backed into the stroller.
“He did not act recklessly,” Mr. Hurr said. “There was no serious physical harm and this was not a DUI.”
Mr. Jarrett's pickup truck pinned the stroller against a pole next to the phone booth for about 30 seconds before he pulled forward, Mrs. Osborne said.
She said he got out of the truck, looked at her children and started walking away.
“I said, "Don't let him leave,'” she testified.
“Some people stopped him. He went inside his truck and people stood around it.”
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