A Tennessee State Trooper arrested two drivers for DUI last year, however it was later revealed that neither tested at above legal limit. An ongoing investigation shows this sort of wrongful arrest isn’t limited to one bad cop, and an overburdened review process is costing people their time, livelihoods and dignity.
A Tennessee State Trooper arrested two different drivers on false DUI charges, NBC’s Nashville affiliate WSMV reports. The first person arrested — a man named Keith Von Soosten — detailed to WSMV his August 2023 arrest by State Trooper William Yates-Matoy. WSMV says body camera footage showed a second trooper asking Von Soosten about whether or not he had been drinking almost as soon as he walks up to his car.
Von Soosten tells WSMV4 Investigates that he did swerve while trying to put on his seat belt but did not feel it warranted him to conduct a field sobriety test.
So when the other trooper on the scene, William Yates-Matoy, asked Von Soosten to take a field sobriety test, his answer was no.
“Alright, you’re under arrest for DUI,” Yates-Matoy can be heard saying in the body camera footage.
“Why is that? Whoa, wait, don’t do that yet. I’m asking the question,” Von Soosten said.
Von Soosten would be charged with several offenses, including DUI, reckless driving and implied consent.
Two months later, Von Soosten’s blood test showed his blood alcohol level was .067, sober enough to drive.
Von Soosten said he was humiliated by the arrest, especially as he wasn’t drunk. WSMV says Yates-matoy wrote on the ticket that Van Soosten “had crossed the center line, had a strong odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes and a thick, slurred speech.”
Yates-Matoy made a second false DUI arrest in December 2023 of Thomas Manis. Mains’ BAC later showed he was sober during the arrest. Mains ultimately filed a suit against Yates-Matoy and the State Troopers over the arrest.
These two arrests are only a small part of a larger problem. WSMV has been investigating Tennessee State Troopers over a number of false DUI arrests in a series called Sobering Problem. WSMV found that the agency has a backlog of alcohol and toxicology tests that might prove the innocence of those arrested, but their lives are disrupted while they wait for police to get their act together. Head over to WSMV and read more about the investigation here.