LEWISTON – A man was arrested in Lewiston on Friday for his fifth alleged DUI and is now facing a felony charge.
At about 2:00 a.m. last Friday morning, a Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Deputy was near the Southway Bridge in Lewiston when they observed a pickup driving southbound on Snake River Avenue at a high rate of speed.
Court documents say the deputy estimated that the vehicle was traveling at least 80 mph. By the time the deputy could begin to pursue the vehicle, it was already an estimated half-mile away.
The deputy activated his emergency lights, but the vehicle did not immediately stop. The deputy would follow the pickup up Duthie Boulevard, even activating sirens to get the driver’s attention, according to the documents. The vehicle continued onto Ridgewater Drive, where it finally pulled over.
The documents say the deputy reported the driver, identified as 40-year-old Roy Sawicki of Lewiston, appeared to be almost confused and his eyes appeared to be glassy. Sawicki allegedly claimed he had no idea he had been driving so fast. The deputy suspected Sawicki was under the influence of alcohol.
Sawicki’s blood alcohol level was measured twice at the scene of the traffic stop, measuring 0.156 and 0.158, according to the documents. The legal limit is 0.08.
Sawicki was placed under arrest for driving under the influence and transported to the Nez Perce County Jail. Court documents filed by the Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday say that the arrest was Sawicki’s fifth arrest for DUI. The documents also say he was on probation until early this year for a previous conviction.
Due to the prior convictions in the last ten years, Sawicki is being charged with felony DUI. He is also being charged for driving without privileges, a misdemeanor, and was also cited for speeding.
Sawicki appeared in court on Monday and bond was set at $20,000. A Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office court filing says the alleged crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
