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UTAH COUNTY — A former Utah County attorney was arrested on drunk-driving charges after nearly crashing into a Utah Highway Patrol trooper on I-15.
Jeffrey Gallup, 40, has already seen two DUI cases dismissed from Utah County courts over evidence problems. He was last arrested over Labor Day weekend of last year — his sixth DUI — when his blood-alcohol level was .09 — above the legal limit.
In that case, the judge later suppressed the evidence — ruling Lone Peak police were not justified in making the traffic stop.
The latest arrest came on Mar. 28, when Gallup was stopped after troopers said he nearly ran a patrol car off the road. Dash-cam video from the stop showed the trooper immediately suspecting Gallup of being drunk.
"While I am standing here, I can smell a very strong odor of alcoholic beverage," the trooper said. "How much have you had to drink tonight?"
It is always concerning to see someone come back after we hopefully sent a message to them the first time.
–Craig Johnson, deputy Utah County attorney
Gallup denied consuming any alcohol, but failed field sobriety tests. The disbarred attorney previously served time in prison on two DUI convictions.
"It is always concerning to see someone come back after we hopefully sent a message to them the first time," said Craig Johnson, deputy Utah County attorney.
Results from his blood alcohol level in the most recent arrest are still pending, but prosecutors filed felony DUI charges.
"One DUI is serious enough, but multiple ones where we see someone who obviously hasn't got the message and hasn't got treatment — the motivating factor is here the behavior needs to change," said Johnson. "We are going to try to help him do that through the judicial system."
A few days after his arrest, Gallup posted bail. He was a no show in court last Thursday when the official charges were filed.
A non-bailable warrant was issued, meaning when Gallup is arrested he must remain in jail until he can explain to the judge why he missed his court hearing.
Contributing: Jessica Ivins
