Hotline finishes drunken driver

New signs have been but up in Gallup that urge drivers to report drunk drivers. The signs have been proven helpful when a drunk driver was caught Wednesday, August 15, 2007. [Photo by Daniel Zollinger/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP — A repeat DWI offender was caught in the act on Wednesday night, thanks to a call to the local Drunkbuster line.

A motorist noticed 35-year-old David Willie, of Pinedale, driving erratically and called the phone number designated for reporting drunken drivers to authorities. Several signs have been posted on local billboards to promote the line.

Police Officer Lauren Milligan was leaving the state police office near New Mexico Highway 118 and tried to initiate a traffic stop with Willie at about 8 p.m.

Milligan noticed Willie was driving his silver Chevy Impala into the westbound lane of oncoming traffic, Lt. Darren Soland, of the New Mexico State Police, said.

“The officer tried to affect a traffic stop and the suspect sped up,” Soland said.

A pursuit subsequently ensued and progressed along eastbound Interstate Highway 40. Local authorities communicated with Grants Police officers to set up “stop sticks” at the Exit 63 overpass; however, Willie suddenly stopped his vehicle. As officers approached Willie, he sped off and continued at a high-rate of speed until his vehicle ran out of gas at mile marker 68.

Soland said Willie continued to disobey officers’ request and was “physically placed” into custody. Willie was booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center on felony charges of drunken driving and aggravated fleeing of an officer. He is also facing a slew of misdemeanor charges.

Willie reportedly refused to submit to a breathalyzer test to determine his level of intoxication, so medical staff will conduct a blood test to learn his blood alcohol content at the time of the incident.

Soland said Willie has at least four “provable” prior drunken driving convictions.

He said officers weigh an array of factors when deciding whether a pursuit of a suspect is safe for the public.

The factors are included in the safe pursuit act that was modeled after the New Mexico State Police’s longtime policy.

“Officers and supervisors will ask whether the pursuit endangers the public more than the benefit of catching the suspect,” Soland said.

Speeds during Wednesday’s pursuit topped 100 mph; however, the chase was progressing away from the city of Gallup and its motorists. No injuries were reported. McKinley County sheriff’s deputies assisted with the incident, according to a back-up reported filed by the agency.

Soland said this is the second drunken driver who has been arrested in about a week’s time because of the Drunkbuster line.

“The Drunkbuster line works,” Soland said. “This is a perfect example of that. We encourage people to continue to be diligent.”

To report a drunken driver, call #DWI or #394.