The family that plays together stays together…. or something like that…
In this case rather than a Alaskan husband “going for the ride” for a relatively simple warrant for failure to attend court-ordered DUI classes, instead, both he and his wife are in custody on multiple felony offenses.
Meet 35 y/o Joshua Watford. That’s his mug shot below…
Joshua, who had an arrest warrant for failing to attend court-ordered classes after a DUI conviction. was taken into custody at approximately 2:30 pm on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015 while at a pawn shop in picturesque Big Lake, Alaska (shown below), which is about sixty (60) miles outside of Anchorage.
After Joshua was handcuffed and secured in the back of an Alaska Highway Patrol squad car a passing motorist stopped and began speaking to the arresting officer about an unrelated matter… enter Joshua’s wife, 28 y/o Amber Watford (who’s mug shot is below).
While the officer was distracted Amber, in a video-game worthy but real-world-dumb-as-can-be move, decided to hop behind the wheel of the patrol car and take off with Joshua handcuffed inside.
State Troopers recovered the patrol car about an hour later, with neither any damage nor anything missing from the car – including the cuffs that had been on Joshua’s wrists – but there was not sign of the Watfords. Naturally Troopers launched a search for the couple, which included bringing in a helicopter and an Anchorage Police Department K-9, but after several unsuccessful hours, the hunt was called off. The following evening, on Thursday, September 3rd, 2015, based upon a tip, the Watfords were located and arrested at a home in Wasilla, where police also found a stolen 2000 Dodge pickup truck at the property, leading to a bevy of charges, including multiple felonies.
Memo to the Folks: You should love and support your spouse / significant other, but busting them out of police custody is not necessarily the best way to approach that honorable goal. In this case Joshua faced relatively minor problems, until a) Amber went all “Bonnie”, stealing a police vehicle and effecting an escape, and b) While on the lamb the pair continued their flight from justice by committing additional crimes, including at a minimum a second grand theft auto. Memo to Bonnie and Clyde, er Amber and Joshua: 1) You can’t help your loved one when you yourself are rotting in a jail cell and 2) bag things usually happen when you turn a mole hill into a mountain.
When it comes to the subject of “Cops, Courts and Constitutions” you should always have a skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney who is focused on serving your interests. While we can’t stop the cops from arresting you, as your legal counsel Michael A. Haber, PA will ensure that your rights are respected from the moment that representation begins and that any abuses which may have occurred beforehand are remedied.
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Top notch, very skilled, and highly attentive. Mr. Haber is a fantastic criminal defense attorney. 
- Thanks again. You are second to none when it comes to defending your clients. For that, I thank you
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