SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — A suspect was arrested for crashing into a parked and occupied Spokane County Sheriff’s Office car Wednesday night.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies were in the area of North Crestline Street near East Bruce Avenue around 10:45 p.m.
Deputies said 70-year-old James A. Clifford crashed into the driver’s side of an occupied and marked patrol car parked on the side of the road. Clifford continued driving after the crash despite damage to the passenger side of his truck.
The Sheriff’s Office said Clifford eventually stopped and was not hurt. When asked by deputies, Clifford said he had been drinking “mostly beer” that night. When asked how much alcohol he had to drink, Clifford told deputies “more than I should’ve.”
Deputies said Clifford’s speech was slurred, his eyes bloodshot, he swayed while standing and smelled of alcohol.
The Sheriff’s Office said Clifford also admitted to smoking marijuana earlier the evening and claimed he wouldn’t have hit the patrol car if he hadn’t drank so much.
Clifford was arrested for driving under the influence. A criminal history check showed Clifford had previously been arrested for DUI in 2020. He later pled guilty to a Reckless Driving charge.
The deputy in the patrol car suffered minor injuries and soreness.
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