Published: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Police stop state school superintendent Randy Dorn
He was stopped in Pierce County on Sunday on suspicion of drunken driving
OLYMPIA — State schools chief Randy Dorn could learn today if he'll face charges stemming from his arrest early Sunday in Pierce County on suspicion of drunken driving.
On Tuesday, a prosecutor said he had not seen reports from police who arrested Dorn in Orting, where the education chief and his family had attended a community event.
Prosecutor Aaron Walls, who works for the city of Orting, said he anticipated he would get through the reports and decide how to proceed sometime today.
A breathalyzer test found Dorn's blood alcohol content was 0.11 Sunday morning, according to the Washington State Patrol, which is .03 above the legal limit in Washington. A police officer administered the test twice at about 3 a.m., about 90 minutes after Dorn was pulled over.
In a prepared statement, Dorn said he drank beer with dinner and “later, while driving home, I was stopped and cited by local law enforcement.” He did not elaborate and declined requests by e-mail and phone for an interview.
“The public has a right to information regarding the conduct of elected officials,” he said in the statement. “However, I hope people will understand and respect that this is a personal legal matter that at this time I am not at liberty to discuss.
“I look forward to the day when I will be able to discuss the details of this incident,” he said.
Elected officials reached Tuesday expressed sadness at the news but wouldn't suggest Dorn step down as superintendent of public instruction. He won election to the post in 2008.
“I hope it doesn't come to that,” said Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, who as chairwoman of the Senate education committee works closely with Dorn. “We should wait for the details before we rush to judgment.”
Gov. Chris Gregoire said it is “a very unfortunate circumstance. My heart goes out to him.”
When asked if the incident imperils his ability to serve, she said, “You know, I leave that to him.”
One of his key political allies steered clear of comment Tuesday.
“We don't have anything to say about it at this point,” said Rich Wood, a spokesman for the Washington Education Association, which represents more than 75,000 school teachers.
The WEA endorsed Dorn when he defeated incumbent Terry Bergeson to become the state's superintendent of public instruction.
The incident occurred in Orting, a small town southeast of Puyallup, west of Mount Rainier and about 20 miles north of Dorn's hometown in Eatonville.
Orting police stopped the car Dorn was driving about 1:30 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of Washington Avenue N., said Police Chief Bill Drake.
Dorn was arrested, handcuffed and brought to the police station where he was processed, cited for driving under the influence and released, Drake said.
Officers also cited him for speeding. Dorn is scheduled to appear in Orting Municipal Court on April 6.
Drake said Dorn was not booked — meaning fingerprinted and jailed — and was allowed to be driven home by another person. That's pretty much the routine for those stopped on suspicion of driving under the influence, he said.
“There was no special treatment,” Drake said.
The chief declined to say if Dorn was administered a alcohol breath test or blood test and what blood-alcohol level was recorded. The legal limit is 0.08.
“This is a pending investigation. I will not talk about this particular incident until the prosecutor reviews the case” and decides whether to file charges, he said.
Reporter Eric Stevick and the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
On Tuesday, a prosecutor said he had not seen reports from police who arrested Dorn in Orting, where the education chief and his family had attended a community event.
Prosecutor Aaron Walls, who works for the city of Orting, said he anticipated he would get through the reports and decide how to proceed sometime today.
A breathalyzer test found Dorn's blood alcohol content was 0.11 Sunday morning, according to the Washington State Patrol, which is .03 above the legal limit in Washington. A police officer administered the test twice at about 3 a.m., about 90 minutes after Dorn was pulled over.
In a prepared statement, Dorn said he drank beer with dinner and “later, while driving home, I was stopped and cited by local law enforcement.” He did not elaborate and declined requests by e-mail and phone for an interview.
“The public has a right to information regarding the conduct of elected officials,” he said in the statement. “However, I hope people will understand and respect that this is a personal legal matter that at this time I am not at liberty to discuss.
“I look forward to the day when I will be able to discuss the details of this incident,” he said.
Elected officials reached Tuesday expressed sadness at the news but wouldn't suggest Dorn step down as superintendent of public instruction. He won election to the post in 2008.
“I hope it doesn't come to that,” said Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, who as chairwoman of the Senate education committee works closely with Dorn. “We should wait for the details before we rush to judgment.”
Gov. Chris Gregoire said it is “a very unfortunate circumstance. My heart goes out to him.”
When asked if the incident imperils his ability to serve, she said, “You know, I leave that to him.”
One of his key political allies steered clear of comment Tuesday.
“We don't have anything to say about it at this point,” said Rich Wood, a spokesman for the Washington Education Association, which represents more than 75,000 school teachers.
The WEA endorsed Dorn when he defeated incumbent Terry Bergeson to become the state's superintendent of public instruction.
The incident occurred in Orting, a small town southeast of Puyallup, west of Mount Rainier and about 20 miles north of Dorn's hometown in Eatonville.
Orting police stopped the car Dorn was driving about 1:30 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of Washington Avenue N., said Police Chief Bill Drake.
Dorn was arrested, handcuffed and brought to the police station where he was processed, cited for driving under the influence and released, Drake said.
Officers also cited him for speeding. Dorn is scheduled to appear in Orting Municipal Court on April 6.
Drake said Dorn was not booked — meaning fingerprinted and jailed — and was allowed to be driven home by another person. That's pretty much the routine for those stopped on suspicion of driving under the influence, he said.
“There was no special treatment,” Drake said.
The chief declined to say if Dorn was administered a alcohol breath test or blood test and what blood-alcohol level was recorded. The legal limit is 0.08.
“This is a pending investigation. I will not talk about this particular incident until the prosecutor reviews the case” and decides whether to file charges, he said.
Reporter Eric Stevick and the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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