HANAHAN, S.C.–An assistant chief with the Charleston Fire Department who’s faced multiple run-ins with the law has had his recent charge against him dropped.
Last month, a Berkeley County judge dismissed the failure to stop for blue lights charge against Christopher Michael Vanhoy, 40, of Meadowcliff Avenue in Hanahan.
In November, law enforcement authorities arrested Vanhoy after they said his truck sped away from a Hanahan officer who suspected him of driving while under the influence of alcohol.
This is his second arrest on the same charge. He served probation on a 2001 conviction for fleeing from the police, documents stated. He was also acquitted of two drunken driving charges that same year.
According to a report by WCBD-TV, a defense attorney for Vanhoy told the judge that his client was not attempting to flee from police.
Instead, his client says he was simply looking for a safe place to pull over due the historic flooding that pounded the lowcountry in October.
The attorney also argued Vanhoy never broke the speed limit and was using his turn signals.
“Failure to stop for blue lights is really designed to handle those who lead police on high speed chases,” defense attorney Scott Bischoff told reporter Rebecca Collett. “It creates a danger to the community.”
Meanwhile, in court, the arresting officer from the Hanahan Police Department told the judge that Vanhoy had plenty of places to pull over, but eventually stopped in front of his own home.
Vanhoy was never given a sobriety test, according to reports. However, an officer noted that Vanhoy’s breath smelled of alcohol and he slurred his speech when talking. His eyes were also reportedly bloodshot red.
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