LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i police arrested a 53-year-old Kapa‘a man after he posted an online video of himself drinking beer while driving. Richard Gerald Godbehere Jr. was arrested Feb. 22 for consuming and possessing liquor while operating a vehicle and driving
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i police arrested a 53-year-old Kapa‘a man after he posted an online video of himself drinking beer while driving.
Richard Gerald Godbehere Jr. was arrested Feb. 22 for consuming and possessing liquor while operating a vehicle and driving without a license. He has since been released pending an April court appearance.
Godbehere declined to comment after being reached by phone Wednesday afternoon.
In the roughly four-minute video, which appears to have been posted in late-December, Godbehere pops open a capped beer bottle and proceeds to drink it while driving and speaking into a camera, boasting about being “debt free.”
“I’m so happy to be drinking and driving,” Godbehere says during the video. “We all know drinking and driving is against the law; you’re not supposed to do that. But they didn’t say anything about driving and drinking.”
The Kaua‘i Police Department didn’t find Godbehere’s video funny.
“Our officers spend a lot of time and effort keeping our roads safe, but it is also a shared responsibility with our community,” Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry said in a Wednesday news release. “Our traffic laws are in place for a reason, and Mr. Godbehere’s blatant disregard for those laws is the type of behavior that won’t be tolerated.”
Police were informed of the publicly available video through tips on Feb. 19, which prompted a police investigation that resulted in Godbehere’s arrest.
“This is the first case of its kind for KPD, but with the rise in popularity of online media it likely won’t be that last,” Perry said. “Keeping on top of what is posted on the Internet can be an overwhelming task, but this is a great example of how our citizens can take ownership in keeping our community safe. The partnership between law enforcement and our citizens is a force multiplier and something we continue to build upon, because we are always looking at new and innovative ways to exchange information with the public.”
KPD recently announced the launch of its new smart phone app, called KPD Tip, which allows users to anonymously report tips to police. By downloading the app to an Android or iPhone, tips can be messaged or texted directly to police without compromising the sender’s identity.
Anonymous tipsters can also submit information through CrimeStoppers by calling 241-1887, or by completing an online suspicious activity report through KPD’s website, www.kauai.gov/police.
“We want the public to know that if they are taking the time to report suspicious activity, we are making the time to investigate it,” Perry said. “And by publicizing this case, we hope to prevent future incidents like this from occurring.”
The Kaua‘i Police Department takes this opportunity to remind residents that April is being declared “Distracted Driving Awareness Month” in Hawai‘i. KPD plans to participate in the month-long campaign.
