Denied ASL Interpreter by Police
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SUMMARY:
On Saturday 11/15/2020, a Tempe Police officer pulled Gaby over, denied her access to a sign language interpreter, insisted she was under the influence of alcohol, forced her to take a breathalyzer test and a balance test, and then arrested her, even though she had no alcohol in her system. As a 20-year old college student who is deaf, Gaby was alone, scared, and unable to effectively communicate with the officer because there was no ASL interpreter present. Please donate to this campaign to help offset the legal fees Gaby is having to pay as a result of this shameful ADA violation and wrongful arrest.
MORE INFO:
Gaby is an ASU student studying Conservation Biology and hopes to become a wildlife or marine biologist. She lives with Mondini malformation, which affects both her hearing and her balance. While she was driving home from a friend’s home on 11/15/2020, a Tempe PD officer pulled her over. Since her hearing aid batteries were dead, she told the officer that she is deaf and wanted an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter, a right that is guaranteed to her and all deaf people via the Americans with Disabilities Act. After the police officer told Gaby the only way to be accommodated was to go to the police station, he asked her if she had been drinking alcohol and told her to get out of her car. The officer made Gaby take a breathalyzer test and she blew a 0, indicating that she had not recently consumed alcohol. Even though she blew a 0 (verifying that she had no alcohol in her system) and continued to insist that she was sober, the officer forced her to take the balance and coordination tests. Unfortunately, because the officer had denied her the right to have an ASL interpreter, Gaby could not effectively communicate that due to Mondini malformation and anxiety, there was no way she would be able to successfully pass the balance and coordination tests the officer was forcing her to take. After failing the tests, the officer arrested Gaby. Gaby still does not know if her Miranda rights were read to her because without an ASL interpreter present, she could not understand what the officer was saying.
After seeking legal counsel to help defend her case in court and hopefully get the case dismissed, she is facing approximately $7,000 in legal fees. Gaby and her family appreciate any financial support you can give.
On Saturday 11/15/2020, a Tempe Police officer pulled Gaby over, denied her access to a sign language interpreter, insisted she was under the influence of alcohol, forced her to take a breathalyzer test and a balance test, and then arrested her, even though she had no alcohol in her system. As a 20-year old college student who is deaf, Gaby was alone, scared, and unable to effectively communicate with the officer because there was no ASL interpreter present. Please donate to this campaign to help offset the legal fees Gaby is having to pay as a result of this shameful ADA violation and wrongful arrest.
MORE INFO:
Gaby is an ASU student studying Conservation Biology and hopes to become a wildlife or marine biologist. She lives with Mondini malformation, which affects both her hearing and her balance. While she was driving home from a friend’s home on 11/15/2020, a Tempe PD officer pulled her over. Since her hearing aid batteries were dead, she told the officer that she is deaf and wanted an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter, a right that is guaranteed to her and all deaf people via the Americans with Disabilities Act. After the police officer told Gaby the only way to be accommodated was to go to the police station, he asked her if she had been drinking alcohol and told her to get out of her car. The officer made Gaby take a breathalyzer test and she blew a 0, indicating that she had not recently consumed alcohol. Even though she blew a 0 (verifying that she had no alcohol in her system) and continued to insist that she was sober, the officer forced her to take the balance and coordination tests. Unfortunately, because the officer had denied her the right to have an ASL interpreter, Gaby could not effectively communicate that due to Mondini malformation and anxiety, there was no way she would be able to successfully pass the balance and coordination tests the officer was forcing her to take. After failing the tests, the officer arrested Gaby. Gaby still does not know if her Miranda rights were read to her because without an ASL interpreter present, she could not understand what the officer was saying.
After seeking legal counsel to help defend her case in court and hopefully get the case dismissed, she is facing approximately $7,000 in legal fees. Gaby and her family appreciate any financial support you can give.
Organizer and beneficiary
Viki Peer
Organizer
Tempe, AZ
Gabriela Giambalvo
Beneficiary
