Nineteen-year-old Taven Galanakis, a freshman wide receiver at William Penn University, found himself at the center of a controversial arrest in his hometown of Newton, Iowa. On August 28th of the previous year, Galanakis was driving home from a friend’s house after a night of watching football. Due to a faulty headlight and inclement weather, he was using his high beams, which attracted the attention of Newton Police Officer Nathan Winters.
Taven Galanakis, a college athlete, is suing the city of Newton, Iowa, after he was arrested for OWI despite blowing a 0.00 on a breathalyzer test.
The officer’s body camera footage shows Galanakis promptly providing his license, registration, and insurance. However, the situation escalated when Officer Winters asked Galanakis to step out of his vehicle and questioned him about alcohol consumption. Despite Galanakis’s repeated assertions of sobriety, the officer’s line of questioning persisted.
Body camera footage shows Galanakis repeatedly asking to take a breathalyzer test, confident in his sobriety.
Galanakis, confident in his sobriety, repeatedly requested a breathalyzer test. His pleas were met with insistence from Officer Winters that he participate in a series of field sobriety tests. Galanakis, visibly nervous, admits to potentially slipping up on the tests due to the stressful situation.
Following the field sobriety tests, Officer Winters administered a breathalyzer test, the results of which clearly displayed “0.00” on the body camera footage. Despite this, Officer Winters continued to suggest Galanakis was under the influence, shifting his focus to marijuana.
Despite Galanakis’s insistence that he hadn’t consumed marijuana, citing his position on the college football team and regular drug testing, Officer Winters disregarded his claims. The officer even consulted with a colleague, mentioning Galanakis’s supposed hesitation when questioned about marijuana as a reason to suspect impairment.
Bodycam footage shows the breathalyzer results clearly displaying "0.00."
The situation culminated in Galanakis’s arrest for operating while intoxicated, even though he had blown a 0.00 on the breathalyzer. At the police station, a drug recognition expert confirmed Galanakis’s sobriety.
After obtaining and posting the body camera footage online, Galanakis received an outpouring of support and shared experiences from others who felt they had been unjustly targeted by the Newton Police Department.
The incident spurred Galanakis to file a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa against the city of Newton and its police department. The lawsuit alleges violation of Galanakis’s civil rights and false arrest.
The Newton Police Department declined to comment on the case, and Officer Nathan Winters remains employed by the department. This case highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in law enforcement, sparking a crucial conversation about potential bias and the need for reform.
