Man with history of DUI arrests jailed
Published 9:25 pm Saturday, December 29, 2007
SEATTLE — A Lynnwood man with a long history of driving under the influence is behind bars again after a collision and a short police pursuit Saturday in north Seattle.
The 51-year-old man has been arrested 15 times on suspicion of driving under the influence, leading to five DUI convictions during the past 10 years, according to the Washington State Patrol.
On Saturday, police believe the man, driving a 1999 Ford pickup, drove away after rear-ending a vehicle about 12:30 p.m. on top of the Northgate offramp from northbound I-5.
State troopers quickly spotted the pickup at the intersection of NE 115th Street and Fifth Avenue NE, but when they turned on their lights, the truck reportedly didn’t pull over. Troopers followed the truck to NE 130th Street and Roosevelt Way, where it finally stopped after getting caught in slow-moving traffic, the State Patrol said.
Troopers shot the man with a stun gun to take him into custody because he was being combative, the State Patrol said.
A 52-year-old man who was riding with the Lynnwood man was released after he was treated for injuries by the Seattle Fire Department.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI and booked into the King County Jail. He had three outstanding warrants, including two for eluding police. The third was for a prior DUI, the State Patrol said.
He now faces the possibility of felony DUI and eluding charges, as well as misdemeanor charges for hit-and-run, driving with a revoked license and resisting arrest.
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
