A rollover crash in Clark County has prompted local law enforcement to arrest a man under suspicion of drunk driving, according to news sources. Washington State Police arrested the 48-year-old man following the single-car accident. Thankfully no one else was harmed in the crash, but the man faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana and driving with a suspended license.
Few details about the accident and subsequent arrest have been made public at this time. It has been confirmed that the man was seen heading northbound on Interstate 5 on the evening of Oct. 4, where he was allegedly driving erratically. Apparently in the midst of attempting to change lanes, the man overcorrected and drove his vehicle up an embankment, causing the car to roll over.
Police on the scene charged the man with DUI, though the details of his arrest were not included in the report. No mention of roadside sobriety tests were made, nor was it clear if police searched the car and, if they did, whether they had a warrant to do so. The man was arrested, and it is unclear whether he is currently in police custody or free on bail. No court date has been announced.
When police file charges of driving under the influence, especially when followed with charges of possession of an illegal drug, they are beholden to provide not only evidence of the veracity of these claims, but also that they took appropriate steps within the boundaries of the law to confirm them. In this case, if Washington prosecutors cannot prove conclusively that the man was drunk and/or high at the time of the arrest, those charges may be dropped. In addition, police will have to make an accounting of why they searched the man’s vehicle or person and offer proof that the search was conducted legally.
Source: kptv.com, “Man charged with DUI after being involved in rollover crash in Clark County”, Oct. 5, 2015