by HEATHER GRAF
SEATTLE -- A commander who
oversees the patrol division of the Mountlake Terrace Police Department is now
on administrative leave, after being arrested and charged with driving under
the influence.
Donald Duncan is an 18-year
veteran of the police force.
According to court documents, a
Washington State Patrol officer working in Snohomish County witnessed Duncan
cross the centerline of traffic by approximately three tire widths. Court documents also say he was driving at
night without his headlights on and ran a red light as he was being pulled
over.
Court documents say that as
soon as the trooper pulled over the vehicle, Duncan immediately told him he had
worked for the Mountlake Terrace Police Department for 18 years. The trooper wrote that Duncan had "bloodshot
and watery eyes" and smelled like alcohol.
Duncan allegedly begged the
trooper not to arrest him.
Mountlake Terrace Police
confirm to KING 5 that Duncan was placed on administrative leave in February,
pending the outcome of the investigation.
Court documents say Duncan has
pled not guilty to the charges.
KING 5 caught up with Duncan at
his home in Lake Stevens. He could not
say much, because it is a pending case, but felt it was important for people to
know his blood alcohol level was below the legal limit.
Court documents confirm his two
breath samples registered at .055 and .058.
Both results are below the legal limit of .08.
In the WSP report, the
investigating trooper said the breathalyzer test wasn't administered until
about two hours after he pulled Duncan over.
Based on the rate at which alcohol is metabolized by the body, the
trooper wrote in his report that he stood by his decision to arrest Duncan.
Duncan told KING 5 there were
some discrepancies in the investigative report.
He also says he would never use his position as a law enforcement
officer to get special treatment during a traffic stop.
He is hopeful his name will
eventually be cleared.