To be or not TOBE — That is the question!

DRUNKEN DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR EVADING POLICE OFFICERS AFTER FAILING TO APPEAR ON ANIMAL ABUSE CHARGES

SANTA ANA, Calif. — 02/04/2016 – TONY RACKAUCKAS, Orange County District Attorney, reports that a drunken driver was arraigned on Jan. 20, 2016, for evading police officers after failing to appear in court on animal abuse charges.

Tiffini Kuuipo Tobe, 47, La Habra, was charged Jan. 20, 2016, with one felony count of evading while driving recklessly, one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol, one misdemeanor count of resisting and obstructing an officer, and one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a valid license in Case #16NF0168. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and two years and six months in jail. Tobe was scheduled for a pre-trial hearing in Case #15WM07685, and was to appear to be arraigned in Case #16NF0168, Jan. 20, 2016, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

Circumstances of Case # 15WM07685

Tobe is accused of owning and caring for a 4-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier named Alan. Prior to February 2015, the defendant is accused of failing to properly care for Alan and leaving his hypertrophic osteopathy untreated. The defendant is accused of neglecting to seek veterinary assistance for Alan when he had chewed off his own affected foot, exposing the bone.

In February 2015, the defendant is accused of staying in the Garden Grove Inn with Alan and three additional pit bulls, two of which were young puppies.

On Feb. 19, 2015, a witness saw Alan’s injuries and contacted the Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD), who investigated this case. Alan was subsequently transported to the Sunny Hills Animal Hospital in Fullerton. Further investigation revealed that Alan’s foot had been missing since October 2014, and that he suffered from other severe and irreversible joint lesions. Veterinarians determined that an amputation could not be performed and that the severity of the lesions on Alan’s other limbs would prevent him from recovering and were required to immediately euthanize Alan. The remaining pit bulls were impounded.

On June 10, 2015, Tobe was charged with one misdemeanor count of keeping an animal without proper care. The defendant is accused of failing to appear for her scheduled arraignment on the charges on July 30, 2015. Officers from the La Habra Police Department subsequently arrested the defendant on Aug. 12, 2015.

On Aug. 17, 2015, the defendant was released from custody after posting $10,000 bail, and was ordered by the court to keep no animals in her care as a term of her release. If convicted in this case, Tobe faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail.

Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Malone of the Environmental Protection Unit is prosecuting this case.

Circumstances of Case # 16NF0168

On Jan. 15, 2016, Tobe was scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Case #15WM07685. The defendant is accused of failing to appear at the hearing and subsequently a bench warrant was issued for her arrest.

On Jan. 18, 2016, Tobe is accused of driving eastbound on California State Route 91 with two pit bulls in the vehicle. The defendant is accused of parking her vehicle on the shoulder of the freeway and falling asleep.

At approximately 8:40 p.m. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers observed Tobe’s vehicle, attempted to awake the defendant and asked the defendant to exit the vehicle. Tobe is accused of refusing to comply with CHP officers’ commands and putting her vehicle into drive and accelerating away from the officers. The defendant is accused of evading pursuing officers while driving recklessly at speeds ranging from 20 to 90 mph. Tobe is accused of ignoring CHP commands over the public address speaker system to stop her vehicle.

Tobe is accused of continuing to evade pursuing officers after an attempted PIT maneuver in which the defendant’s vehicle spun 360 degrees. Pursuing CHP officers attempted a second PIT maneuver and the defendant’s vehicle came to a stop. CHP conducted a field sobriety test and Tobe is accused of displaying objective signs of alcohol intoxication including emitting an odor of alcohol. Tobe was subsequently arrested.

At the time of her arrest, Tobe is accused of being in possession of six pit bulls, in violation of the court order to keep no animals in her care. The pit bulls are being held at Long Beach Animal Care Services.