Former Los Angeles County Prosecutor Arrested in Alleged DUI Crash
Michael Kenneth Pettersen, a prosecutor from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office currently on leave, was arrested in late August when he rear-ended a vehicle waiting at a red light in Calabasas. The struck vehicle was carrying a well-known radio personality who goes by the moniker Big Boy.
Mr. Petterson is 54 years old and lives in Northridge. He has been on leave from the district attorney’s office since January 2017.
Passenger of Struck Vehicle Indicated Drinking at Scene
Although Mr. Pettersen had not been formally charged with driving under the influence (DUI) at press time, a videographer was on the scene and filmed footage that showed an individual in the driver’s seat drinking as he awaited police. He also stumbled when police helped him out of the vehicle.
Big Boy, whose real name is Kurt Alexander, said to the videographer “Man, this dude just crashed into me and he’s sitting in the car still drinking,” a comment caught on the videotape. He later tweeted “He was still on the bottle.”
Held on Two Outstanding Warrants for DUI
The collision occurred at roughly 1 p.m. at the intersection of Parkway Calabasas and Park Entrada.
Officials said that Mr. Pettersen’s record also shows two outstanding warrants on 2014 DUI charges from Ventura County and 2016 charges of driving with a suspended license. He is being held on the former and entered a “not guilty” plea on the latter.
He will be appearing in court shortly to plead on the recent collision.
In September 2017, Mr. Pettersen was suspended from the California State Bar due to nonpayment of membership fees, according to the Los Angeles Times. Records indicate that he had been a member of the bar since 1989.
Call an Experienced Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer
The recent crash illustrates the potential dangers posed to motorists throughout southern California. Being hit at a red light and possibly put in danger by a motorist under the influence of alcohol are only two potential perils of the road.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a vehicle collision in Los Angeles, you may be entitled to monetary compensation to help you with expenses related to the incident, including those medical bills, property damage, loss of income from time off work, and even funerals.
The Ellis Law Firm has successfully fought for the rights of those injured in southern California motor vehicle accidents for more than two decades. Call us today at 310-641-3335 for a free consultation.
Additional Resources
- Fry, Hannah. “On-leave county prosecutor arrested on suspicion of DUI after colliding with radio personality Big Boy.” Los Angeles Times. August 23, 2018. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-big-boy-crash-20180823-story.html#
- “Los Angeles Prosecutor Arrested for DUI After Car Crash With Radio Host Big Boy.” Huffington Post. August 24, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/michael-pettersen-big-boy-crash_us_5b7fa7b7e4b0729515119727